However, although it was clearly observed that both HNSCC lines showed more mesenchymal characteristics than CSCC lines (higher migration rate, reduced E-cadherin expression and increased mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin and snail), which has been associated with increased resistance to various treatments, no relationship with PDT efficacy was observed in our case47–49. Here, VIM is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.