Next, we show that overexpression of miR-96-5p in the HNSCC cells carrying mutant p53 protein leads to increased cell migration, and, finally, we provide the first evidence that miR-96-5p is involved in radio- and chemo-therapy resistance, at least in part, by directly targeting PTEN mRNA and maintaining aberrantly activated the PI3K-AKT pathway. Here, AKT1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.