In locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CTRT), baseline EGFR (IHC) expression predicts a poor tumour downstaging (Kim et al, 2006) and is also an independent prognostic factor for local recurrence (Azria et al, 2005; Giralt et al, 2005; Li et al, 2006). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is neoplasm.