Expression of epidermal growth factor receptors on normal human gastric epithelia and gastric carcinomas.

Tissues of normal human gastric mucosae and 15 advanced gastric carcinomas were studied immunohistologically for the presence of receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) by use of a murine monoclonal antibody (528IgG), which reacts with the binding domain of human EGF receptor. On normal gastric mucosae, only parietal cells showed positive staining. On cancer tissues, definite staining was observed in 9 of 15 cases. Their staining intensities were variable and weaker in general compared to those of either gastric parietal cells or normal tonsilar squamous epithelium. No apparent correlation of EGF receptor staining with the grade of histologic differentiation or lymph node metastases of these gastric carcinomas was noted.