Our findings suggest that serum levels of FSCN1 may serve as a predictor of lymph node metastasis (AUC = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57–0.85; 75% sensitivity and 67% specificity) and progression-free survival (AUC = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–0.90; 71% sensitivity and 80% specificity) in HNSCC patients, respectively (Supplementary Fig. 1B and 1C [available online]). This evidence concerns the gene FSCN1 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.