In this study, we provide a model (Figure 10) showing that higher levels of epiregulin in the HNSCC microenvironment induce its binding to EGFR and activates the EGFR-Erk-C-Myc signaling axis, which in turn promotes tumorigenesis in HNSCC. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.