Issues

The cover features a histology section of a biopsy specimen from an oral premalignant lesion (OPL) stained with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–specific antibody and counterstained with hematoxylin (200x magnification; Ariol-platform image courtesy of Sufi Thomas). The strong expression of EGFR (brown) predominantly occurs in the basal layer of the epithelium; connective tissue does not express EGFR (mottled blue). EGFR abnormalities are associated with oral tumorigenesis and progression. As reported in this issue of the journal, EGFR-expression and gene copy-number changes were evaluated (immunohistochemistry for expression, fluorescence in situ hibridization for copy number) as markers of an OPL's increased risk for progressing to oral cancer in a randomized controlled clinical trial. See articles by Benchekroun et al. (beginning on page 800 ) and Rosin and Califano (beginning on page 797 ) for more information.