Moreover, CDK5 overexpression reverted the inhibition of EMT markers expression by asON and WP1066 in Hep-2 and Tca8113 cells (Additional file 3: Figure S1C), suggesting that CDK5 overexpression in HNSCC cells is sufficient to induce tumor cell motility via modulating EMT. The gene discussed is CDK5; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.