Epidermal growth factor receptors in malignant and benign tumors in children

The radioligand technique was used to study the amount of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in malignant and benign tumors in 32 children aged 8 months to 17 years. The membranous fraction of 11 of the 32 tumors studied showed EGFR equal to 10.1 to 1327 fmol/mg (163.0 +/- 117.5 fmol/mg, median 38.0 fmol/mg). The greatest amount of EGFR was found in breast fibroadenomas. There was no clear relationship of the frequency and level of EGFR expression to a nosological tumor entity in children. A possible role of the EGFR system in tumors in children is discussed.