<h4>Background</h4>Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted photoimmunotherapy using cetuximab sarotalocan sodium (RM-1929) represents a novel therapeutic modality that induces selective tumor cell death and may influence the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.