CREB5 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: In general, our study elucidated that CREB5 increased cell mitochondrial activity and ATP production through TOP1MT, promoted the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and enhanced the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, thereby inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and promoting HNSCC cell resistance to cisplatin.