The present disclosure provides a method for diagnosing a head and neck cancer in a subject. The method comprises the steps of: a) measuring an expression level of miR-125b or miR-342 and miR-125b in a sample from the subject; b) measuring an expression level of a normalizing miR in the sample and normalizing the measured expression level of miR-125b or miR-342 and miR-125b using the measured expression level of the normalizing miR; and c) diagnosing a head and neck cancer in a subject having a normalized measured expression level of miR-125b elevated relative to a reference expression level of miR-125b or having a ratio of normalized measured expression level of miR-342 to normalized measured expression level of miR-125b reduced relative to a reference ratio of expression level of miR-342 to expression level of miR-125b. Uses and kits associated with the herein disclosed methods are also disclosed.