Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to stimulate DNA synthesis and cell division in normal glia. At least half of malignant human gliomas (MHG) express high levels of the EGF receptor (EGFR), which are above those detected in normal brain. The demonstration that antibodies against the EGFR inhibit the growth of squamous cell carcinoma line A-431, with large numbers of EGFR, in vitro and in vivo raises the possibility that these agents could be used therapeutically against malignant human gliomas either alone or conjugated to other agents. We have measured the growth effects of EGF and an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, 528 (Ab-528), on four well-characterized human malignant glioma cell lines, D-263 MG, D-247 MG, U-343 MGa Cl 2:6, and D-37 MG, with 2.9 x 10(4), 1.5 x 10(5), 8.6 x 10(5) and 1.59 x 10(6) EGFRs per cell, respectively. EGF significantly increased cell number in D-263 MG and D-37 MG by 65% and 74%, respectively, had no effect on D-247 MG, and significantly decreased cell number in U-343 MGa Cl 2:6 by 39%. U-343 MGa Cl 2:6 growth was inhibited 19% by Ab-528, but Ab-528 had no effect on growth of the other MHG lines. Ab-528 significantly inhibited all EGF-mediated growth effects. These studies demonstrate that, although Ab-528 alone has little antiproliferative activity on MHG, it successfully competes with EGF to reduce the biological effects of EGF-EGFR binding. Therefore, this antibody could potentially be used to target radioisotopes to MHG via the EGFR for diagnosis and therapy.