Sunitinib, which is approved for gastrointestinal stromal tumour and renal cell carcinoma, as well as vandetanib, a selective dual inhibitor of EGFR and VEGF pathways, are currently being evaluated in phase II trials, either alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in advanced HNSCC. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.