HIF1A and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Since areca, an oral carcinogen, up-regulates HIF1α in HNSCC cells [4] and nicotine is also known to markedly up-regulated HIF1α expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells [42], it seems likely that miR-372 contributes to human HNSCC genesis via stimulation by habitual use of carcinogenic substances.