Interestingly, according to the TCGA HNSCC database, mRNA abundance of the genomically closest genes CDO1 (cysteine dioxygenase type 1), DDX43 (DEAD-box helicase 43) and RNU2-49P (RNA, U2 small nuclear 49, pseudogene) display no correlation with ATG12 expression (data not shown). Here, ATG12 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.