PAX5 and PAX6 are tissue-specific transcription factors. PAX5 is associated with neuronal development, spermatogenesis, and B-cell differentiation. In esophageal cancer cell lines, PAX5 knockdown promotes resistance of tumor cells to cisplatin, inhibits proliferation, promotes apoptosis, and induces activation of p53 signaling. Functions of the PAX complex with HMGB3 are unknown. The gene discussed is PAX6; the disease is esophageal cancer.