As shown in the Table 3, univariate analysis showed that older age (HR = 1.318, 95% CI: 1.003-1.731, P = 0.045), female (HR = 1.349, 95% CI: 1.014-1.796, P = 0.040), positive perineural invasion (HR = 2.135, 95% CI: 1.516-3.007, P = 1.42E-05), advanced pathologic stage (HR = 1.754, 95% CI: 1.203-2.558, P = 0.004), and high FOXD1 expression (HR = 1.665, 95% CI: 1.264-2.194, P = 2.93E-04) were significantly associated with poor OS in patients with HNSCC. This evidence concerns the gene FOXD1 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.