Androgen receptor in human normal and malignant pancreatic tissue and cell lines

Estrogen and progestogen receptors have been demonstrated in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue. Tumor growth as xenografts in nude mice is promoted by testosterone and retarded by cyproterone acetate but is not influenced by estrogens, progestogens, or their antagonists, although estrogen receptors were demonstrated in xenograft cytosol. A new sensitive microassay technique for sex steroid receptors which relies on affinity chromatography was used in this study. With this assay, androgen receptors were detected in five fresh human pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens (three male), two pancreatic cancer cell lines (Mia PaCa 2 and Ger), one xenograft tumor which responded to androgens, five specimens of normal adult pancreas (two male), and a pool of fetal pancreatic tissue. The similarity of the androgen receptor in pancreatic carcinoma to that of classical androgen target organs was demonstrated by sedimentation behavior and competitive binding studies. The improved sensitivity of the microassay allowed low levels of estrogen, androgen, and progesterone receptors to be detected in normal adult pancreatic tissue.