Immunoreactive estrogen receptor protein in meningiomas: comparison with the androgen receptor and progesterone receptor binding activity

Abstract

Analyses of gonadal steroid hormone receptor were performed using a monoclonal enzyme immunoassay for human estrogen receptor protein (estrophilin) for the first time and a conventional radioligand binding technique for progesterone and androgen receptors in 70 meningiomas. Low levels of estrogen receptor immunoreactivity (3.7 +/- 0.5 fmol/mg protein) were detected in 37 (53%) tumors, whereas moderate concentrations of androgen receptor binding activity (31.7 +/- 5.3 fmol/mg protein) and high concentrations of progesterone receptor binding activity (189 +/- 29.2 fmol/g protein) were demonstrated in 33 (47%) and 53 (76%) tumors, respectively. The estrophilin immunoreactivity was positively correlated with the androgen receptor binding activity (r = 0.634; p less than 0.001) but no relationship with the progesterone receptor binding activity was found. The presence of gonadal steroid receptors in a large proportion of meningiomas could have implications for diagnosis and tumor therapy.