Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in 30% to 70% of patients with ESCC and is associated with poor prognosis and an inferior response to conventional treatment.10 Several phase III studies have tried unsuccessfully to combine EGFR monoclonal antibody (cetuximab) with chemoradiation in esophageal cancer.11,12,13 An impaired overall survival (OS) was reported in the SCOPE1 trial,12 which may be partly due to the additional toxic effects. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.