As a novel oncoprotein [15], tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2) was reported to be induced by retinoic acid, human papillomavirus and Epstein‒Barr virus in acute promyelocytic leukemia, cervical cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, respectively [15–17]. The gene discussed is TNFAIP2; the disease is cervical cancer.