Fig. 2

Transcriptomic heterogeneity and characterization of malignant epithelial cells in HPSCC. a UMAP plot of epithelial cells colored by the CNV level, sample type, cell type, and CytoTRACE score. b Heatmap showing the signature DEGs between the six distinct mEpC subsets. c Box plot depicting the CNV and CytoTRACE scores of the different epithelial cell subsets. d Heatmap of the t-values for the area under the curve (AUC) scores of expression regulation by the TFs of the mEpC subsets, as estimated using SCENIC. e Differences in the activities of hallmark pathways between different mEpCs subsets, scored using GSVA. f Kaplan–Meier curve of the OS in the TCGA-HNSC cohort stratified by the optimal cut-off point for LAMC2, SPRR3, and TOP2A expression levels. P-values were calculated using the two-sided log-rank test. g IHC staining showing the expression and localization of the p-EMT marker LAMC2, epithelial differentiation marker SPRR3, and proliferative marker Ki67 (MIK67) in the HPSCC tumor samples