The quantification of IHC staining demonstrated that TIM3 expression was significantly increased in recurrent HNSCC (P < 0.01, n = 8, Fig. 2B) and HNSCC with preradiotherapy (P < 0.05, n = 12, Fig. 2D) or pre‐TPF chemotherapy (P < 0.01, n = 11, Fig. 2F) as compared with primary HNSCC (n = 122). The gene discussed is HAVCR2; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.