CIBERSORT analysis demonstrated that there were substantial differences in 11 infiltrating immune cells in HNSCC, and PLAU was closely correlated with 10 type cells, including T cells CD8+ (R =  − 0.329), T cells follicular helper (R = − 0.342) and macrophage M0 (R = 0.278). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.