Based on primer specificity and good reproducibility, three differentially expressed biomarkers were identified, of which, PLAU, FN1 and CDCA5 were found to be upregulated; whereas CRNN, CLEC3B and DUOX1 were downregulated when comparing HNSCC cell lines to normal oral epithelial cells in culture (Fig. 1c). Here, CRNN is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.