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Hormonal receptor determination in juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas
Author(s) -
Lee Dwight A.,
Rao B. Ramanath,
Meyer John S.,
Prioleau Philip G.,
Bauer Walter C.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19800801)46:3<547::aid-cncr2820460321>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - estrogen receptor , antiandrogen , androgen receptor , estrogen , androgen , testosterone (patch) , medicine , receptor , hormone , endocrinology , cytosol , dihydrotestosterone , prostate cancer , cancer research , cancer , biology , breast cancer , biochemistry , enzyme
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNA) are rare. They have been frequently treated with estrogens, either solely or as an adjuvant therapy prior to surgery or irradiation. Clinical trials have provided no evidence to explain the objective response to estrogens observed in some tumors. Since the mechanism of steroid hormone action is mediated via specific receptors, we analyzed 8 JNA for tumor cytosol estrogen receptors. None were positive for estrogen receptors. Additionally, all were also negative for progesterone receptors. Nasopharyngeal angiofibromas occur predominantly in adolescent boys at a time when there is a gradual change in androgen availability. Therefore, three latter angiofibromas were also analyzed for the presence of cytosol androgen receptor. Specific testosterone and dihydrotestosterone binding components in the tumor cytosol were detected. This observation raises for the first time the possibility that JNA may be an androgen‐dependent tumor. Estrogen may act as an antiandrogen on these tumors, an action similar to that on prostate cancer. Cancer 46:547–551, 1980.