Interestingly, when we knocked down USP14 and overexpressed FABP5 at the same time, it was found that overexpression of FABP5 could restore the inhibitory effect of USP14 on various cellular processes, including proliferation, colony, migration and invasion of HNSCC cells (Fig. 6A–D). Here, FABP5 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.