miR-144-3p is downregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines. (A) Heatmap of miRNA profiles representing the significantly up/downregulated miRNAs. The color code in the heat maps is linear, with green as the lowest and red as the highest. (B) Expression of miR-144-3p was validated by RT-qPCR analysis in OSCC tissues and matched tumor-adjacent tissues (n=50). P<0.01 vs. control group. (C) Expression of miR-144-3p was validated by RT-qPCR analysis in OSCC tissues with lymph node metastasis. P<0.01 vs. non-metastasis group. (D) Expression of miR-144-3p was measured in 4 OSCC cell lines (HSC-2, CAL-27 and SCC-4), and the HOK normal oral mucosa cell line, used as a control, by RT-qPCR analysis. Data are presented as the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. **P<0.01 vs. NHOK cells. OSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma.