Epidermal growth factor receptors in human breast cancer

The capacity for specific binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) was studied in crude membrane fractions from 95 human breast carcinomas. About 42% of the samples showed saturable, high affinity, specific binding of EGF. In 21% of the tumors we were able to demonstrate high (above 10 fmoles/mg protein) binding capacity. Moreover, high EGF receptor values were associated with a low content of estradiol receptor. These studies are related to the definition of new biochemical markers in human breast cancer.