Estradiol receptor-binding protein in head and neck neoplastic and normal tissue.

Estradiol (E2) receptor-binding protein was measured in 42 neoplasms and normal tissues from the head and neck region. Tissues with high E2 receptor protein content included normal skin and normal mucosa of the nose and the floor of the mouth and of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands. Two of four papillary carcinomas of the thyroid, three of five pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid, four of six squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, one of angiofibroma of the nose, and an eye (sclera) melanoma also had a high content of E2-binding protein. The demonstration of estrogen receptors in these neoplasms may indicate that these tumors also, as many breast lesions, may be hormone-dependent. If this is correct, an appropriate hormonal treatment may influence their biological evolution.