Androgen and Oestrogen Binding in Cytosols of Human Ovarian Tumours

Abstract

The specific retention of androgens and oestrogens by cytoplasmic components of human ovarian tumours was investigated. High-affinity, low-capacity binding of androgens was observed in 88% of tumour specimens and oestrogen binding in 32%. Retention of oestrogens did not occur in the absence of androgen binding. The androgen-binding component, of sedimentation coefficient 7.5-8.5S, showed specificity for 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-estra-4,9,11-trien-3-one (R1881). In some instances, competition for R1881-binding sites indicated the presence of progesterone receptor-like binding. The data presented suggest strongly the existence of androgen and oestrogen receptors in some ovarian tumours and may be relevant to histopathological classification and therapeutic rationales.

The human ovarian surface epithelium is an androgen responsive tissue

“…Expression of the androgen receptor (AR) has been demonstrated in ovarian cancers using ligand binding assays (Hamilton et al, 1981). Further studies have shown AR to be expressed by as many as 90% of epithelial ovarian cancers (Kuhnel et al, 1987).…”

Tamoxifen in refractory ovarian cancer: the use of a loading dose schedule

“…The presence in ovarian cancer cells of receptors for oestrogen and progesterone (Holt et al, 1979;Rowland et al, 1985;Sutton et al, 1986), and for androgens (Hamilton et al, 1981), combined with the ability of these cells to synthesise steroid hormones (Heinonen et al, 1982;Backstrom et al, 1983), suggests that hormonal manoeuvres may be useful in the treatment of this condition.…”

Levels of Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin mRNA in Human Ovarian Cancers

“…Many studies have suggested that estradiol-17ß [1], progesterone [1,2], testosterone and dihydrotestosterone [3] regulate normal ovarian function, and the presence of the cor- Misao/Iwagaki/Sun/Fujimoto/Tamaya responding estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors has been demonstrated in human normal ovary and in benign and malignant ovarian tumors [4][5][6][7][8]. The growth of some ovarian cancers regresses with tamoxifen [9][10][11], megestrol acetate [9], and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment [12].…”