After extracting the expression data of 232 autophagy-related genes in HNSCC patients,10 downregulated genes (NRG2, NRG3, MAP1LC3C, PRKN, HSPB8, CCL2, FOS, TP53INP2, PTK6, and NKX2-3) and 28 upregulated genes (EIF4EBP1, BAK1, RGS19, HIF1A, CXCR4, CTSL, VMP1, SPNS1, TNFSF10, TP63, BID, VEGFA, SPHK1, EGFR, SERPINA1, DDIT3, EIF2AK2, ITGB4, ITGA3, APOL1, IRGM, BIRC5, FADD, ITGA6, IFNG, NRG1, IL24, and CDKN2A) were determined. The gene discussed is SPHK1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.