Cytosolic and nuclear sex steroid receptors in meningioma.

To determine the nature of the hormone dependency of meningioma, particularly whether progestin receptor (PR) and tumor growth are estrogen-dependent, we measured the cytosol estrogen receptor (ER) and PR separately by an exchange assay with [3H]R 2858 (for ER) and [3H]RU 27987 (for PR) in 21 meningiomas. We correlated these receptors with age, plasma estradiol and progesterone concentrations, histological subtypes, clinical data such as uterine fibromas, and finally preoperative glucocorticoid therapy. ER was detected at low levels in the cytosol and in the nucleus of a few tumors whereas PR was found in 20 of 21 cases at moderate to high levels, usually with higher concentrations in the cytosol than in the nucleus. No clear relation could be drawn between either cytosol or nuclear ER and PR levels and estradiol and progesterone plasma concentrations, or with the other parameters. On the contrary, a clear correlation could be drawn between cytosolic PR and androgen receptor (AR) concentrations (measured with [3H]R 1881 in the presence of triamcinolone acetonide), leading to several hypotheses of hormonal regulation in meningioma.