miR-136-5p suppresses viability, invasion and migration of LSCC and HPSCC cells. (A) After LSCC and HPSCC cells transfected with miR-136-5p mimics, mimics-NC, miR-136-5p inhibitor or inhibitor-NC for 24 h, cell viability was detected using MTT assays, n=6. Cell migratory abilities were measured using wound healing assays in (B) FD-LSC-1 cells and (C) FaDu cells, scale bar=200 µm. (D) Migratory rates were then quantified. (E) Cell invasion was observed and (F) measured using transwell assays, scale bar =100 µm. (G) The protein expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin were measured using western blot analysis and normalized to the levels of β-actin. Data are presented as the mean ± SD, n=3. *P<0.05. HPSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; LSCC, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; miR, microRNA; NC, negative control.