Glucocorticoid binding proteins in myeloblasts of acute myelogenous leukemia.

The myeloblasts of 16 patients with untreated acute myelogenous leukemia were examined for specific glucocorticoid binding proteins. In only 3 of the 16 patients were such high affinity receptors found. The presence of glucocorticoid binding protein activity was positively correlated with inhibition of macromolecular synthesis of myeloblasts in vitro whereas absence of binding protein activity was associated with lack of glucocorticoid inhibition of the cells. Since glucocorticoids appear efficacious in only a small fraction of cases of acute myelogenous leukemia, determination of glucocorticoid binding protein activity may provide assistance in planning chemotherapeutic regimens.