This analysis identified 160 DEGs (Fig. 5A), of which 22 genes, including GSTM1, PWP2 and MPPED1, were significantly upregulated in BAA HNSCC compared with White HNSCC (P < 0.05, logFC >1) (Fig. 5B). The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.