Additionally, the negative correlation of FGFR1 gene expression and DNA methylation status is statistically significant (Pearson correlation r of − 0.32, p value < 0.0001, Fig. 7b), suggesting that FGFR1 transcription is associated with demethylation in some HPV-negative HNSCC tumors. Here, FGFR1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.