In this study, we demonstrated that WMJ-J-09, a novel aliphatic hydroxamate-base compound, activates LKB1-AMPK-p38MAPK-p63-survivin and/or p21cip/Waf cascade to cause G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in FaDu HNSCC cells. Here, STK11 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.