The　purpose　of　this　study　was　to　investigate　the　potential　of　the　blood　levels　of　MIR-21　and　PTEN　as　novel　biomarkers　for　oral　squamous　cell　carcinoma　(OSCC).　We　initially　detected　MIR-21　and　PTEN　using　real-time　RT-PCR　from　90　blood　samples　and　then　compared　their　results　with　expression　in　cancer　tissues　from　10　OSCC　patients.　Finally,　we　examined　the　relationship　between　these　markers　and　clinical　parameters.　Blood　MIR-21　and　PTEN　had　significant　diagnostic　value　for　OSCC　and,　to　an　extent,　correlated　with　the　expression　level　of　tumour　MIR-21　and　PTEN.　In　addition,　they　were　associated　with　differentiation　and　nodal　status.　Thus　circulating　MIR-21　and　PTEN　might　represent　new　complementary　tumour　markers　for　OSCC.