Immunocytochemical analysis of receptors for estrogen and progesterone in fine needle aspirates from anal epidermoid carcinoma.

Fifteen patients with anal epidermoid carcinoma were examined with percutaneous or transanorectal fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. Aspirates from all patients allowed cytologic verification of the diagnosis. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) were analyzed using an immunohistochemical technique well adapted for steroid receptor analysis in hormone-dependent carcinomas. Neither ER nor PgR could be detected in any of the aspirates. This finding is somewhat unexpected since there is a strong female predominance in this tumor type. However, our findings do not negate that sex steroid hormones may indirectly play a role in the tumorigenesis of anal epidermoid carcinoma.