Epidermal growth factor receptor in odontogenic cysts and tumors.

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was investigated in 67 cases of odontogenic cysts and 35 cases of odontogenic tumors using monoclonal antibody to EGFR (Biomarker, Israel) to determine the presence and significance of this transmembrane growth factor receptor. The cystic epithelial cells of odontogenic cystic lesions (keratocyst 60%; primordial cyst 75%; radicular cyst 35%; and follicular cyst 47.4%) were positive to EGFR staining. Cytochemical characterization of EGFR in those cystic epithelium was cell membrane positive type as in the normal epithelium. No expression of EGFR was found in the odontogenic tumors. This diversity of EGFR represents no binding activity of EGF, or loss of EGFR in the tumor cell upon EGFR mediated growth in odontogenic tumors was suggested a different tumor cell growth factor status or microenvironment in cell proliferation mechanism at the cellular level in cysts and tumors of odontogenic origin.