Although no difference in SCC progression was noted in vivo, when primary squamous carcinoma cells isolated from HPV/WT or HPV/KO mice were reintroduced orthotopically into either non-K14-HPV16 transgenic, wild-type or α2-null animals, the HPV/WT tumor cells, but not the HPV/KO tumor cells engrafted and grew rapidly. This evidence concerns the gene KRT14 and neoplasm.