Abstract: Cytoplasmic estrogen receptor levels（ERc）were measured in ovarian malignancies from 55 patients using a dextran-coated charcoal assay.In 34 cases,progesterone receptor levels（PRc）were also determined.41.8% of malignancies were ERc positive（≥7 fmole/mg protein）and 41.2% were PRc positive（≥20 fmole/mg protein）.
Granulosa cell tumors contained significantly more ER than other histologic variants.Gastrointestinal carcinomas metastatic to the ovary showed higher PRc than other groups.ERc was detected in well differentiated tumors than in poor differentiated ones.It was found that both ERc and PRc have the tendency to present higher levels in patients of early stage than in those of late stage.The level of ERc is higher in postmanopausal women than in the premanopausal ones, but that of PRc is just reverse.Some recurrent tumors of ovary also contained ERc and PRc,suggesting that some of ovarian malignant tumors developed dependent on sex steroid hormone.