NLRP3 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: We also found significant upregulation of the mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β in the HNSCC mass (NLRP3; P = 0.0153, Caspase-1; P = 0.0216, IL-1β; P = 0.0087, ASC; P = 0.0225, n = 9) (Figure 2A, 2C).