Next, PRG expression levels were compared between HNSCC tumors and control tissues, leading to the identification of 21 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (Fig. 2A), of which 18 (CASP1, CASP3, CASP5, CASP6, CASP8, GSDMB, GSDMD, GSDME, IL-1B, NLRC4, NLRP1, NLRP6, NLRP7, NOD1, PLCG1, PYCARD, SCAF11, and TNF) were upregulated in tumors and three (CASP9, ELANE, and IL-18) were downregulated (Fig. 2B). Here, CASP9 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.