Objectives To investigate the biological functions of microRNA-144-3p with respect to proliferation and apoptosis of human salivary adenoid carcinoma cell lines via mTOR. Results After transfection of microRNA-144-3p agomir, cell viability assays confirmed that the salivary adenoid carcinoma cell (SACC) proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis was induced. Dual luciferase reporter assay validated that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was a direct target of miR-144-3p. Western blot, immunofluorescent analysis and a xenograft mouse model of adenoid cystic carcinoma indicated that miR-144-3p was a tumor suppressor and repressed mTOR expression and signaling in SACCs. Conclusions MicroRNA-144-3p inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human salivary adenoid carcinoma cells by downregulating mTOR expression in vitro and in vivo.