Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in normal ovary and in ovarian tumors

Increased expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor has been recorded in many types of human tumors and has been associated with reduced survival in ovarian carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the immunocytochemical distribution of the EGF receptor in normal ovaries (n = 30) and in ovarian tumors (n = 126). Staining was observed in two normal ovaries, in the granulosa cells of a developing follicle, and in surface epithelium. Forty-seven of 103 malignant common epithelial tumors were immunopositive. Staining was usually focal, always confined to the neoplastic epithelium, and showed a cytoplasmic distribution. There was a slight trend for increased EGF receptor expression in more advanced common epithelial malignancies, but this was not statistically significant. No correlation between immunoreactivity and histological subtype or grade of tumor was seen. A few other tumors were also examined: one each of Brenner tumor, mature teratoma, mature teratoma with squamous carcinoma, borderline serous tumor and fibroma; all were immunopositive.