Androgen and progesterone receptors in oral carcinoma

Androgen (AR) and progesterone (PgR) receptors were measured in 18 samples of normal oral mucosa and of squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth or the tongue. In a given mean concentration of R1881 (Methyltrienolone) of 8.4 nM in the carcinoma and of 7.9 nM in the normal mucosa, we measured a mean androgen receptor level in the carcinoma smaller than 1.08 fmol/mg protein (< 0.034 fmol/microgram DNA). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) from the androgen receptor level in the normal mucosa (2.2 fmol/mg protein, 0.082 fmol/microgram DNA). In this experiment, in only 41.2% did we find any PgR receptor in the carcinoma whereas all normal tissue contained PgR, the concentration varied between 0.1 and 3.0 fmol/mg protein (0.01-0.09 fmol/microgram DNA).