PKG1α promotes chemoresistance, maintenance of cancer stem cells and cell survival in lung, cervical, breast and ovarian cancers19,31–33; while overexpression of PKG1β and PKG2 exerts anti-tumorigenic effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, breast, prostate and colon cancers20,34–36. The gene discussed is PRKG2; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.