Increased epidermal growth factor receptors in melanocytic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF/R) have been reported to be absent in melanomas or, in contrast, to be markers for potential malignancy in melanocytic lesions. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the literature discrepancies regarding the presence of EGF/R in melanocytic lesions and to determine whether EGF/R presence correlates with the potential for malignancy of melanocytic lesions. METHODS: An EGF/R-specific polyclonal antibody was used to study melanomas, dysplastic nevi, congenital nevi, and nevocellular nevi. RESULTS: All melanocytic cell types (nevus and melanoma cells) in the lesions studied had immunoreactive EGF/R. EGF/R immunoreactivity was also observed throughout the epidermal basal to granular cell layers overlying the melanocytic lesions, although dermal fibroblasts were negative. CONCLUSION: The pattern of increased immunoreactive EGF/R in both benign and malignant nevocellular lesions suggests that although EGF/R are not a specific marker of potential malignancy in melanocytic lesions, they may mediate or coordinate growth of keratinocytes and nevus cells.