Several of these genes have established roles in HNSCC pathogenesis; for example, RPL30 has been implicated in promoting invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma,37 HDAC9 overexpression is associated with increased tumor growth and cell cycle progression,38 and KEAP1 inhibition sensitizes HNSCC cells to ionizing radiation by impairing non-homologous end joining and inducing autophagy.39 This evidence concerns the gene KEAP1 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.