Estrogen receptors in esophageal carcinoma and normal esophageal mucosa

Abstract

Estrogen receptors (ER) were assayed in surgical specimens of human esophageal carcinoma and normal esophageal mucosa. ERs were detected in 5 of 40 specimens of esophageal carcinoma with 9 metastasized lymph nodes and 31 primary lesions removed from 31 patients. The value ranged from 1.5 to 2.6 fmol/mg cytosol protein with a dissociation costant (Kd) of less than 1 nanomol. 8 of 31 normal esophageal mucosa specimens had measurable amounts of receptors ranging from 1.9 to 5.1 fmol/mg cytosol protein. The receptors were not detectable in both tumor and normal mucosa in 20 patients. ERs of human esophageal carcinoma transplanted into nude mice were detected in 9 of 15 tumors, ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 fmol/mg cytosol protein. In the light of the current results, it would be of great interest to know whether hormone therapy is effective in human esophageal carcinoma.