PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MEK/ERK and IKK/NF-κB pathways are three crucial pathways downstream of EGFR signalling in HNSCC.4,10 We previously reported that PI3K/Akt/mTOR promoted IKK/NF-κB pathways through mTOR complex1 downstream of EGFR in HNSCC (25; Fig. 7, left panel). The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.