EGFR and cancer: It harnesses both active and passive tumor targeting of in vivo esophageal adenocarcinoma tumors in BALB/c nu/nu immunodeficient mice receiving GNRs functionalized with an optical fluorophore (Cy5.5) modified with anti-EGFR antibody together with image-guided NIR irradiation to enhance live cancer site-specific fluorescence and hyperthermia.