Methods for evaluating head and neck cancers

A method comprising:

• a) measuring an expression level of miR-342 and miR-125b in a first serum sample from a subject undergoing treatment for an oral cavity cancer and/or oropharynx cancer at a first period of time;
• b) measuring an expression level of a normalizing miR in the first serum sample at the first period of time and normalizing the measured expression levels of miR-342 and miR-125b of step a) using the measured expression level of the normalizing miR;
• c) measuring an expression level of miR-342 and miR-125b in a second serum sample from the subject at a second period of time;
• d) measuring an expression level of a normalizing miR in the second serum sample at the second period of time and normalizing the measured expression levels of miR-342 and miR-125b of step c) using the measured expression level of the normalizing miR;
• e) calculating a reduced or no change in the ratio of normalized measured expression level of miR-342 to normalized measured expression level of miR-125b in step d) relative to a ratio of normalized measured expression level of miR-342 to normalized measured expression level of 125b in step b) to identify the subject as having a reoccurrence of an oral cavity cancer and/or oropharynx cancer or persistent oral cavity cancer and/or oropharynx cancer;
• and f) imaging the head and/or neck region of the subject, wherein the imaging is CT, PET/CT and/or MRI.