To elucidate the mechanisms of PD-L1 nonimmune signaling in tongue cancer cells, PD-L1 and downstream key molecules p-IGF-1R, IGF-1R, p-Akt1 (Ser473), p-Akt1 (Thr308), AKT1, p-c-Raf, p-MEK1, MEK1, p-ERK, ERK, p-FOXO1A, FOXO1A, p-FOXO3A, FOXO3A, p-GSK-3β (Ser9), and GSK-3β; important transcript factors NF-κBp65, STAT3, and c-Myc; EMT-transcription factors Slug, Snail, and ZEB-1; and EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin were systematically analyzed by western bolt. Here, ZEB1 is linked to tongue cancer.