The ability of cetuximab to induce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-8 directly from HNSCC cells (Fig. 1) is supported by our previous work showing that a panel of EGFR inhibitors (i.e. cetuximab, panitumumab, erlotinib, lapatinib) increased the secretion of cytokines such as IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF and IFNγ [10]. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.