We have established three cell lines (IMC-2, IMC-3, and IMC-4) from a human maxillary tumor, which exhibited different sensitivities to epidermal growth factor (EGF). It was inhibitory to colony-forming abilities of IMC-3 and IMC-4 cells in culture, while it affected that of IMC-2 cells slightly if at all. The differential sensitivities to EGF among the three cell lines were reproducibly observed when several cell sublines were further established from tumors appearing in nude mice. Saturation-binding kinetics with 125I-EGF showed similar levels of EGF-binding activities among the three cell lines. However, IMC-2, IMC-3, and IMC-4 showed almost similar sensitivities to cisplatin. Autophosphorylation of EGF receptor in the presence of EGF proceeded at similar levels among the three cell lines. Tumor growth was followed in nude mice when IMC-2, IMC-3, and IMC-4 at 1 x 10(7) cells were inoculated. The IMC-2 tumors enlarged at much faster rates than the other two cell lines. The IMC-4 tumors showed very slow growth rates, and IMC-3 tumors enlarged at an intermediate rate. These data suggest that the maxillary tumor used comprised cell populations that differed in their growth behaviors in response to EGF.