Expression of epithelial growth factor receptor in oral epithelial dysplastic lesions

The aim of the study was to assess the expression of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) in normal oral mucosa and varying grades of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and to correlate these findings, with clinicopathologic features and findings on routine hematoxylin and eosin-stained (H and E) sections.

Twenty-nine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of various grades of OED and 10 normal mucosa were stained with routine H and E and immunostained with EGFR by avidin-biotin method.

The results showed a significant increase in the staining reactions in varying grades of dysplasia as compared with normal mucosa.

EGFR can be considered as an early marker of a cell proliferation and maturation as well as early marker of epithelial dysplasia and onset of cancer in oral dysplasia. However, further studies with a larger sample size and continuous followup is suggested to determine its role and significance precisely.