A correlation between increased ERCC1 expression with resistance to cisplatin or with poor survival has been reported for several tumours including SCCHN (Metzger et al, 1998; Shirota et al, 2001; Joshi et al, 2005; Handra-Luca et al, 2007). The gene discussed is ERCC1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.