To reliably detect the invasion zone of HNSCC, we performed a literature survey and tested the presence of a range of potential antigens (over-)expressed in HNSCC including c-Met, CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6), E-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN/CD147) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). The gene discussed is EPCAM; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.