From NCBI Gene: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neckFrom UniProt: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC): A non-melanoma skin cancer affecting the head and neck. The hallmark of cutaneous SCC is malignant transformation of normal epidermal keratinocytes. [MIM:275355]

     From NCBI Gene: This gene encodes a tumor suppressor protein that can induce cell growth arrest and apoptosis. The encoded protein is a nuclear protein that physically interacts with the tumor suppressor protein TP53 and is a component of the p53 signaling pathway. Reduced expression and rearrangement of this gene have been detected in various cancers. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008] From UniProt: Cooperates with p53/TP53 in the negative regulatory pathway of cell growth by modulating p53-dependent transcriptional activation. Implicated as a tumor suppressor gene.

The following transcription factors affect gene expression:

• p53

Tissue specificity:

Isoform 2 was expressed in all normal tissues and cells examined, as well as in all breast cancer and melanoma cell lines examined. Isoform 3 was expressed in testis, liver, and kidney, weakly expressed in colon and brain and not expressed in breast and cultured melanocytes. Isoform 4 was highly expressed in testis and weakly expressed in brain, but not expressed in breast, colon, kidney, melanocytes, breast cancer or melanoma cell lines.

Molecular Function:

• Zinc Ion Binding
• Methylated Histone Binding

Biological Processes:

• Chromatin Organization
• Cell Cycle
• Negative Regulation Of Cell Proliferation
• Regulation Of Cell Death
• Negative Regulation Of Cell Growth