STUDIES OF THE EXPRESSION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN HUMAN RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA - A COMPARISON OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL METHOD VERSUS LIGAND-BINDING ASSAY

We evaluated the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by immunohistochemical staining of frozen tumor sections using a monoclonal antibody for EGF R and by a ligand binding method using radiolabeled epidermal growth f actor. EGFR was detected in 16 of the 21 cases by ligand binding, whil e 11 of the 21 cases were detected by immunohistochemical staining. A significant correlation was observed between the two methods in detect ing EGFR (p < 0.0001). EGFR was detected by the ligand binding method in all patients who died of RCC. Four cases that were graded as EGFR-n egative on immunohistochemistry died of RCC. Observations suggest the ligand binding method was more sensitive than the immunohistochemical method in detecting EGFR and forecasting patient survival.