The advent of cetuximab (Cmab) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-HNSCC).1-6 Based on the results of the CheckMate-141,7 KEYNOTE-0408 and KEYNOTE-0489 trials, platinum and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibodies have become key drugs in front-line therapy for RM-HNSCC. The gene discussed is PDCD1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.