Hormone serum levels and hormone receptor contents of endometria in women with normal menstrual cycles and patients bearing endometrial carcinoma.

Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (HPRL), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were estimated in 46 subjects with normal menstrual cycles in whom hysterectomies were performed. Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) levels in endometrial samples of these patients were estimated, and histological dating of the cycle day was carried out. Similarly, hormone serum levels and ER as well as PgR were estimated in 17 patients with endometrial carcinoma. No correlation between LH, FSH, HPRL and ER as well as PgR was noted in the normal subjects. Correlation between P and ER was observed in this group. Parallel variations between E2 and PgR were recorded in the normal females. In the carcinoma group no correlations between hormone serum levels and receptor contents were found, but ER and PgR correlated with each other. Receptor levels was highest in the well-differentiated group of endometrial carcinoma. The present experiments provide a rationale for progestagen therapy of carcinoma of the endometrium.