Amplification and overexpression of the EGF receptor gene in primary human glioblastomas

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in brain tumours of glial origin was studied at the protein, mRNA and genomic levels. Four out of 10 glioblastomas that overexpress EGF receptor also have gene amplification. The amplified genes appear to be rearranged, generating an aberrant mRNA in at least one of these tumours. Such receptor defects may be relevant to tumorigenesis of human glioblastomas.