Androgen receptor binding activity in meningiomas.

Analyses of androgen receptor binding activity in 54 intracranial, intraspinal, and metastatic meningiomas were performed with a specific radioligand binding technique using [3H]R 1881 as radioligand. [3H]R 5020 was used for the concurrent determination of progesterone receptor binding activity. Moderate concentrations of androgen receptors (33.4 +/- 5.4 fmol/mg protein) were detected in 35 (65%), whereas high levels of progesterone binding components (236 +/- 35 fmol/mg protein) were demonstrated in 48 (89%) tumors. The androgen receptor binding activity was positively correlated with the progesterone receptor binding activity (rs = 0.38, p less than 0.05). This relationship is suggestive of an androgen regulation of the progesterone receptor via the androgen receptor system. The presence of androgen and progesterone receptors in a large proportion of meningiomas, and the tendency for a dependence of androgen receptor and progesterone receptor binding activity on the histological subtype could have implications for tumor therapy.