miR-184 has been found to be significantly increased in the tumor cells in comparison with the normal epithelial cells of the tongue. High miR-184 levels were not only detected in the tumor tissues, but also in the plasma of patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Decreased plasma levels of miR-184 were observed in patients after surgical removal of the primary tumor, suggesting that it is a potential oncogenic miRNA in tongue SCC.