To determine if circulating IL-1 ligand levels would predict survival outcomes in cetuximab-based chemotherapy-treated HNSCC patients we analyzed pre-treatment serum samples from 11 consented patients who were treated with cetuximab-based chemotherapy (i.e. carboplatin, cisplatin, 5-FU, paclitaxel) and have available and complete clinical outcome data. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.