Immunochemistry analysis of MCT1 expression in a large cohort of HNSCC patients (HPV−ven = 100; HPV+ven = 131)23 also showed significantly stronger MCT1 expression in HPV-ve tumours (Fig. 5c; p < 0.0001; Mann-Whitney U test), correlating weakly with Glut1 expression (Spearman’s Rho = 0.228 p = 0.001) and tumour cohesion (pattern of invasion; Spearman’s Rho = 0.232 p = 0.001), but not with tumour grade, perineural, lymphatic or vascular spread. Here, SLC2A1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.