Immunohistochemical detection of the epidermal growth factor receptor in paraffin‐embedded human tissues

Expression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tumour tissues employing two antibodies raised to short synthetic peptides from the cytoplasmic domain of the molecule. Both antibodies gave concordant staining of a series of bladder cancers known to express or lack EGF receptors. There was no cross‐reaction with the related c‐erbB‐2 protein, which was also over‐expressed in some cases. Cancers with EGF receptor expression also expressed high levels of TGF‐alpha, a receptor agonist.