Key Findings:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) tumors were categorized by NOTCH-1 mutation (NOTCH1-Mut subgroup), then the NOTCH1-WT group was further stratified by NOTCH pathway gene expression levels into NOTCH-High and NOTCH-Low subtypes.
- These subtypes were associated with distinct survival outcomes: NOTCH-Low had the best OS, particularly in HPV+ patients, while NOTCH-High had the worst OS and was strongly associated with TP53 mutations.
- These findings support NOTCH1’s dynamic role in HNSCC and its potential as a therapeutic target.