Prior studies have unveiled LIF as a downstream target of TGFβ signaling and SMAD2/3 binds to LIF promoter and activates its transcription to promote glioblastoma CSCs stemness.[28] This different preferential SMAD3 binding at LIF‐SE or promoter between our results from HNSCC and other cancers might be due to diverse genetic background and structure, disease etiology, and others. Here, LIF is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.