The octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) was suggested to be the best indicator for stemness and maintenance of an undifferentiated state.50 In a recent meta-analysis study, a strong correlation was found between OCT4 overexpression and poor overall survival of HNSCC patients.51 SOX2 overexpression was also reported to affect the invasion and metastasis induction of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.52 Our results showed that SF inhibited the expression of both SOX2 and OCT4. Here, SOX2 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.