Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the effect of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1) on HNSCC and offer insight into possible uses of SphK1 levels affect other sphingolipid metabolites and enzymes, this review also summarizes the contributions of other sphingolipids to HNSCC etiology. The gene discussed is SPHK1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.