Figure 6 shows that TYS are stimulated to migrate and display mesenchymal-like phenotype in response to exogenous VEGF. VEGF-induced TYS cell migration was then effectively blocked by the Akt inhibitor. Our data also suggested that Akt, phosphorylated at T308, is a reliable biomarker in VEGF positive smoking and alcohol induced HNSCC progression; however VEGF-induced Akt phosphorylation at S473 might be a prognostic biomarker in HNSCC [123]. Here, VEGFA is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.