Estrogen and progesterone receptor assays were analyzed from epithelial ovarian cancer in 123 patients to determine the prognostic significance of receptor results. In 110 (89%), assays were performed at diagnosis and in 13, assays were performed after previous therapy. Estrogen receptor determinations were positive (above 10 fmol/mg) in 75 cases (61%), progesterone receptor determinations were positive (above 3 fmol/mg) in 35 (28%), and both were positive in 20 (16%). Progesterone receptors were more frequently positive (53%) in tumors of endometrioid histology than with other histologic types (P = .01). Thirty-one subjects had a second assay; estrogen receptors were positive in 16 cases (52%), progesterone receptors were positive in five (17%), and both were positive in five (17%). Synchronous and metachronous assays were in agreement in 60-79% of the cases. By multivariate analysis, positive estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or both did not predict response to chemotherapy, negative second-look findings, or survival. Thirty-one women received hormonal therapy; one of 26 evaluable subjects had a partial response and four (13%) maintained stable disease for at least 6 months (6-21 months). Positive receptors did not predict hormonal response or disease stabilization.