Since little information exist about the molecular mechanisms leading to tumor immune evasion and its correlation with the immune cell contexture the expression of HLA class I antigens and components of the antigen processing machinery (APM) was analyzed in three untreated and interferon (IFN)-γ treated OSCC cell lines as well as a panel of 160 human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative OSCC lesions and correlated with the composition of immune cell infiltration and clinical parameters. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is neoplasm.