Steroid receptors in human lung cancer cytosols.

Receptors for all classes of steroid hormones were identified in cytosols of adenocarcinoma of the lung. In contrast, the incidence of receptor in squamous cell carcinoma was limited and small cell carcinomas appeared devoid of receptor. Receptor binding was of high affinity, saturable and localized to the 8, 6-7 and 4s regions of sucrose density gradients. Demonstration of high affinity cytosol receptors for steroids in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung provides suggestive initial evidence that steroids may influence the natural history of a subset of human lung carcinomas.