To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study to provide evidence that STC2 increases the growth of HNSCC, STC2 is a positive regulator of HNSCC metastasis, and STC2-mediated HNSCC metastasis may be regulated by the PI3K/AKT/Snail pathway. The gene discussed is STC2; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.