Expression of epidermal growth factor receptors by odontogenic jaw cysts

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) by odontogenic epithelium was studied in odontogenic cysts (n = 35), ameloblastoma (n = 6), and periapical granulomas containing proliferating epithelial rests of Malassez (n = 7) using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to EGFr (clone E30, F4 and C11) known to react with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Odontogenic epithelium in all specimens demonstrated immunoreactivity with all three antibodies. Clone E30 consistently gave the most intense, membrane located staining pattern of the three antibodies tested. Generally, staining of epithelial cells progressively diminished with movement away from the basal cell layers toward the most superficial layers of cystic lining or centre of epithelial rests and tumour islands. Developmental odontogenic cysts (odontogenic keratocysts, n = 13; dentigerous cysts, n = 11) and ameloblastoma (follicular type, n = 5; unicystic type, n = 1) expressed a higher level of EGFr staining than inflammatory cysts (radicular cysts, n = 11) and the proliferating epithelial rests in periapical granulomas. However, foci of weak EGFr staining of odontogenic keratocyst lining, similar to that seen in radicular cysts, were found in areas associated with inflammation. In addition, epithelial rests not associated with inflammatory cell infiltrates exhibited stronger reactivity for EGFr than proliferating rests within periapical granulomas. These results indicate that the level of EGFr expression by odontogenic cysts and rests is related to the presence of inflammation within adjacent connective tissue and that there is no detectable difference in receptor expression between developmental cysts and ameloblastoma.