Targeted therapies of HNSCC, for example epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies directed on PD-1 (programmed cell death-1) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been tested in such cases and represent an additional option in tumor spread control. Here, PDCD1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.