At the tumour centre, 60.8% of HNSCC showed α‐SMA‐positive fibroblasts in a ‘poor’ pattern and 39.2% in a ‘rich’ pattern, while at the ITF 70% of HNSCC showed α‐SMA fibroblasts in a ‘poor’ pattern and 30% in a ‘rich’ pattern. Here, ACTA1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.