Although high expression of CD109 has previously been reported to be linked to unfavourable disease-free or overall survival in oropharyngeal SCC [51] and across various cancers, including epithelioid sarcoma, breast cancer, and lung adenocarcinoma [24], the significance of CD109 and IL6Rα co-expression in SCC progression hasn't been reported previously. The gene discussed is IL6R; the disease is cancer.