CXCL2 and neoplasm: In conclusion, we found that chronic inflammatory pathways in tumor tissue, as measured by RNA sequencing (IFNγ; IFNα, TNFα signaling via NF-κB, IFITM1) and immunohistochemistry (IFITM1, PD-L1, CD8 + TIL), in line with elevated levels of regulatory T-cells and CXCL2 in peripheral blood, are associated with CRT resistance and poor prognosis in ASCC.