Clinical applications and value of receptor levels in treatment of prostate cancer.

Factors affecting the validity and interpretation of androgen receptor (AR) assays on prostatic carcinoma tissue are discussed, and attempts to relate AR concentration with response of the patient to hormonal manipulation are reviewed. It is concluded that nuclear AR content may be useful in evaluating prognosis and likely response to hormonal therapy, and that, owing to the heterogeneity of many prostatic carcinoma specimens, a reliable histochemical method for the assessment of androgen sensitivity would be a valuable supplement to the biochemical assay.