The insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR) - mediated molecular pathways have recently emerged as important effectors of neoplastic transformation in various malignancies of the aerodigestive tract, including non small-cell lung cancer [3], [4], thyroid cancer [5], [6], esophageal cancer [7] and SCCHN [8]. The gene discussed is IGF1R; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.