With the sample size in the cases, significant association between DAPK promoter methylation and HNSCC was found among the <60group in random-effect model and the ≥60 group in the fixed-effect model (<60 group, OR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.94–11.06; ≥60 group, OR = 3.12, 95% CI = 2.17–4.49). Here, DAPK1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.