In conclusion, the current study shows that the treatment of cetuximab combined with cisplatin in human colon cancer cells exerts synergistic effects on cell growth inhibition and cell apoptosis induction through the inhibition of IL-8 mRNA and COX-2 expression as well as the inhibition of NF-κB and AP-1 activity via the attenuation of the ERK-dependent EGFR pathway. The gene discussed is PTGS2; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.