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). This evidence concerns the gene MAFB and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.