Since Martin (1948) and Schiff (1959) first reported the use of
sex hormones in JNF patients, many authors have described the various clinical effects and histological changes found after administration of
androgens or
estrogens. In 1980, Johns attempted unsuccessfully to detect
estrogen receptors in the tissue of
tumors from JNF patients. In 1987, however, Farag et al. succeeded in the demonstration of
androgen receptors in homogenates of such
tumor tissue.--In 1989, the authors were able to determine the uptake and receptor-binding of radioactively labelled
dihydrotestosterone in cultured fibroblasts from a
tumor from a 16-year-old JNF patient, and to confirm this result in two other cases. The maximum levels of
hormone binding to the fibroblasts was much the same as is found with genital skin fibroblasts, included in the study as a control androgenic target-tissue with high receptor-density. At the same time it was demonstrated that it was possible to stimulate the
tumor fibroblasts in vitro by adding
testosterone to the culture medium. The attempt to block cell growth with the
antiandrogen cyproterone acetate, was not successful, however. This can possibly be put down to the high progestogenic activity of this
antiandrogen. Further in vitro studies with substances which are purely androgenic (e.g.,
flutamide) or with the
acetate-free form of
cyproterone (which has no progestogenic activity) will possibly be of help in the search for a substance capable of blocking
tumor growth.