STAT3, a crucial gene in progression of HNSCC, has been previously suggested to up‐regulate miR‐21, in a NF‐κB‐dependent form of IL‐6 up‐regulation.34 Our data from immunofluorescence assay demonstrated that the acidic bile‐induced activated STAT3 and NF‐κB were inhibited by NF‐κB inhibitor in treated HHPC (Figure 6). Here, NFKB1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.