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Updated: Sep 11, 2026

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Identification of molecular subtypes and prognostic models for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas based on PFKFB4
Linlin Ying1, Shuxia Zhou2, Xiaojing Ma1
1Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
PFKFB4 is a glycolytic regulator whose role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains incompletely defined. Using TCGA and GEO datasets, we evaluated PFKFB4 expression, molecular subtypes, immune features, and prognosis, and developed an 11-gene prognostic model. PFKFB4 was upregulated in HNSCC and showed diagnostic performance (AUC=0.79). Two PFKFB4-related subtypes differed in survival and immune characteristics, with subtype B showing computational features suggestive of greater responsiveness to PD-1 blockade. The 11-gene model stratified survival risk, although long-term predictive performance varied across cohorts. PFKFB4-related signatures may provide prognostic and immunological information in HNSCC.
