Of these 23 TFs, 12 TFs (XRCC5, NFYC, HOXA1, DLX5, RREB1, PIAS4, MAFB, NR5A2, LMO4, CRTC1, SRF and CNOT8) were significantly associated with RFS in patients with HNSCC according to the findings of multiple Cox analyses (P < 0.05). The gene discussed is CNOT8; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.