Evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Forty-seven cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were examined immunohistochemically by the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method with anti-epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor mouse monoclonal antibody, and 24 cases (51%) were shown to have EGF receptor-positive cells. Correlation was strong between presence of EGF receptors and differentiation; the EGF receptor-positive cells were differentiated, whereas poorly differentiated tumors exhibited less intense staining. EGF receptor gene and c-erb B-1 by Southern blot analysis disclosed that one of 25 cases of squamous cell carcinoma exhibited a fourfold amplification of the gene.