Abstract
Although the lung is not usually considered a major target organ of sex hormones, epidemiologieal observations, studies of pulmonary neoplasms in laboratory animals, and investigations of carcinomas derived from other "nontarget" organs suggest that sex hormones may have a role in the pathogenesis of bronchogenic carcinoma. To confirm that estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors are present in human lung cancers, 19 resected lung cancers were examined for receptors using a prelabeled sucrose gradient method. Three squamous cell carcinomas were positive for ER (>6.9 fmol/mg cytosol protein). Three squamous cell carcinomas, two adenocarcinomas, and one small cell carcinoma were positive for progesterone receptors (>6.9 fmol/mg cytosol protein). One tumor, a squamous cell carcinoma arising in a woman who smoked, had an ER level of 301 fmol/mg, a highly positive level even for breast cancers. These observations may provide a basis for adjuvant hormonal therapy in selected lung cancer patients.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 6632-6635 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Cancer research |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 20 |
State | Published - Oct 15 1990 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research