Based on these premises, we initiated a multicentre phase II study in advanced colorectal cancer, combining gefitinib with FOLFOX in order to determine the activity of such a combination and to relate EGFR expression and gene amplification to therapeutic results, as well as if resistance to chemotherapy induced by NF-kB activation may be overcome by gefitinib, as it happens for cetuximab. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is colorectal cancer.