In HPV-negative HNSCC, the following 10 overexpressed genes were members of the hallmark EMT category: AREG, INHBA, ITGA5, LAMA3, LAMC1, MMP1, MMP3, SERPIN1, TGFBI, and VEGFC. TGFBI is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) and encodes a protein inhibiting cell adhesion. Here, VEGFC is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.