Taken together, comparison of BDNF growth factor and NTRK2 receptor gene expression with clinical data revealed that BDNF is produced both in stroma and in tumor cell nests of HNSCC, the availability of the NTRK2 gene product, TrkB, is limited to approximately 40% of the cases. The gene discussed is NTRK2; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.