We used a well-characterised selective IKKβ inhibitor CmpdA (also named Bay 65-1942) that significantly blocked IKK phosphorylation of NF-κB in multiple cancer cells27 to determine whether blockage of the IKK/NF-κB pathway activity sensitised HNSCC cells to EGFR inhibitor treatment. The gene discussed is IKBKB; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.