In three consecutive open-label Phase I trials, 52 patients with advanced tumours expressing high levels of EGFR were administered cetuximab intravenously as a single infusion (5–100 mg m−2), weekly for 4 weeks (5–100 mg m−2) or weekly for 4 weeks (up to 400 mg m−2) combined with cisplatin. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is neoplasm.