Twelve human melanoma cell lines were analyzed for alterations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene at the DNA, RNA and protein levels. EGFR expression of the cell lines was then correlated with their previously reported p53 expression, in vivo growth characteristics, and rate of metastases in athymic mice. Northern blot and immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated low to intermediate levels of EGF receptor expression in four cell lines. Overexpression of EGFR was seen in one cell line, UISO-MEL-6. Although no significant statistical difference was observed between in vivo growth of EGFR-positive cell lines versus EGFR-negative cell lines, UISO MEL-6 which also lacked p53 expression, had the fastest in vivo rate of growth and was the only cell line to produce visceral metastases following subcutaneous inoculation in nude mice. Furthermore, EGFR overexpression in UISO-MEL-6 was associated with alterations of the gene at the DNA level.