EXPRESSION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR IN GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASE (GTD)

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) is an abnormal condition of th e placenta, the incidence of which is very high in the State of Kerala , India. The biology of the disease is vague and methods to determine the malignant potentialis limited, Placentae of normal (50) and molar pregnancy (95) including 32 patients showing persistent disease were u sed in this study. EGF expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody to EGF and quantitated using isotope labell ed antibody to EGF. EGF was expressed more strongly in molar placentae in all gestational ages in comparison with normal placentae of simila r gestational age, the expression being restricted mainly to first and second trimesters in normal placentae. Moles with early presenting sy mptoms (<12 weeks) were at a higher risk for developing persistent dis ease. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical study shows high expressi on of EGF in early normal placentae and moles linking its role to prol iferative and differentiating activity of trophoblasts. Tumors with hi stological diagnosis of invasive moles and choriocarcinoma showed very strong binding of EGF and thus EGF has the potential of identifying h igh risk lesions.