Detection of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Amplification in Human Squamous Cell Carcinomas Using Fluorescence in situ Hybridization

The gene for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with development of certain human cancers. In this study, we employed the improved fluorescence in situ hybridization technique to detect EGFR gene amplification in cell lines and tissue sections from human squamous cell carcinomas. We detected multiple distinct signals as arrayed amplicons on metaphase chromosomes and interphase nuclei of tumor cells. Our results provide a basis for rapid and quantitative DMA diagnosis of the EGFR gene amplification in individual cells of tumor specimens.