Together, we evaluated the mRNA expressions of key regulators of cholesterol metabolic flux in TCGA-HNSCC dataset and found uptake regulators (LDLR, LOX1, LRP1, SCARB1), biosynthesis regulators (SQLE, DHCR7) and efflux regulators (ABCA1, ABCG1) were upregulated and bioconversion regulators (CYP11A1, CYP27A1) were deregulated in HNSCC tumor tissues compared with paracancerous tissues (data not shown). The gene discussed is SQLE; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.