In addition, our findings also demonstrated MMP1 as a putative oncogenic mediator underlying HNSCC initiation and progression, which suggested that selective targeting of MMP1 by genetic or chemical methods may have translation prospects, but in order to further explore this, more work needs to be done in the future to find accurate MMP1 regulatory networks and novel inhibitors against MMP1. This evidence concerns the gene MMP1 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.