Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binds to the tyrosine kinase receptor. Activation of downstream signal molecules facilitates head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Ficlatuzumab, a monoclonal antibody binds HGF, downregulating c-Met and downstream targets, inhibiting HNSCC proliferation, migration and invasion. TAF indicates tumor-associated fibroblast.