title: Estrogen and progesterone receptors in melanoma metastases with special reference to analytical methods and prognosis.
abstract: Fifty-one tumor biopsies from 33 patients with metastatic melanoma were assessed for estrogen receptor (ER) content, and 46 of these for progesterone receptor (PgR) content in the cytoplasm. ER posivity (above 0.2 fmol/mg protein), as measured with isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels, was found in 23 (70%) of the patients (range 0.2 - 14 fmol/mg protein). With a reference limit of 2 fmol ER/mg protein, 12 patients were positive (36%). PgR was analysed with the dextran coated charcoal technique and no sample demonstrated any positivity with certainty. The ER content was related to clinical prognostic factors without any significant correlation independent of reference limit used. A correlation to survival can not be excluded with ER values above 2 fmol/mg. Pertinent data are given regarding the technique used in comparison with others.
mesh_terms: D002606:Charcoal; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D003600:Cytosol / Q000032:analysis; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D002606:Charcoal