Finally, to determine whether these TAZ/SOX2-correlated genes had prognostic significance in HNSCC, we developed a prognostic score comprising 5 genes (UBN2, DUSP16, DSG2, FXR1 and SC5D) by sequential univariate regression analysis, Robust likelihood-based modeling and multivariate regression analysis using TCGA-HNSCC dataset as training cohort (Fig. 7d). Here, DUSP16 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.