However, our results show that the exosomal HIV TAR RNA not only potentially triggers the proinflammatory TLR3 pathway, but also directly enhances proto-oncogene expression, proliferation, and migration of HNSCC cells through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in an EGFR/TLR3-dependent manner. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK3 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.