We found that the receptor of PLAU, named PLAUR, was expressed in those immune cell clusters (especially in monocyte/macrophage clusters), suggesting that epithelial cells utilize intercellular signaling to drive immune cell recruitment via PLAU-PLAUR interaction in HNSCC (Fig. 10c and Supplementary Fig. 12d). This evidence concerns the gene PLAU and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.