Expression of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in gestational trophoblastic diseases

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) is an abnormal condition of the placenta, the incidence of which is very high in the State of Kerala, India. Placentae of normal (50) and molar pregnancy (122) including 52 showing persistent disease were used for the study. EGFR and EGF expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies. EGF receptors were quantitated using the I-125 EGF-binding assay and that of EGF was quantitated using isotope labelled antibody to EGF. Tumours with histological diagnosis of invasive moles and choriocarcinoma showed very strong binding of both EGF and EGFR. The present observations also suggest the possibility of presence of mutated EGF receptors in persistent trophoblastic disease.