Effects of ionizing irradiation on the estradiol and progesterone receptors in rat mammary tumors.

The determination of estradiol and progesterone receptor concentrations in mammary tumors is useful in predicting the hormone responsiveness. As this assay is carried out on tumor tissue which may have been subjected to radiotherapy, the possibility of an ionizing irradiation affecting the steroid receptor levels in neoplastic tissue should be taken into account. The steroid receptor concentrations are examined in dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced tumors of Sprague-Dawley rats. The estradiol and the progesterone receptor titers become reduced significantly after treatment with 20 Gray while an application with 7 Gray does not affect the titer values. After treatment of the tumor with 20 Gray, the steroid receptor concentrations decrease progressively, reaching a maximal reduction 20 to 30 days after exposure. This measured reduction in binding sites seems to be the result of a specific irradiation effect and not due to a possible increase in lytic enzyme levels in the regressing tumors. As radiation treatment affects the receptor concentrations, this should be kept in mind when interpreting the steroid receptor concentrations.