As various cell-motion-associated genes are upregulated by HIF-1α in OSCC and we previously showed that overexpression of ASC promotes lymph node metastasis in OSCC, we speculate that overexpression of ASC in tumor cells of the tumor margin could stabilize HIF-1α activity to sustain the expression of cell migration- or invasion-related genes, enabling the tumor cells to migrate away from the primary site. The gene discussed is HIF1A; the disease is neoplasm.