Objective To explore the relationships in the numbers of peripheral blood myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Th17 cells, and the IL-17 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Methods The fasting venous blood specimens of 34 OSCC patients and 16 heacthy donors were collected, OSCC patients includied 18 cases of stage I and stage II and 16 cases of stage III and stage IV. The percentages of MDSCs and Th17 cells were determined by flow cytometry and the serum level of IL-17 was detected by ELISA. Results The percentages of MDSCs and Th17 cells, and the level of IL-17 in OSCC patients were higher than those in healthy donors. In OSCC patients, the percentages of MDSCs and Th17, and the level of IL-17 were higher in stage III and stage IV than in stage I and II. The significant correlation was found between the number of MDSCs and the level of IL-17, while no correlation was found between the numbers of MDSCs and Th17 cells. Conclusion In OSCC patients, the numbers of MDSCs and Th17 cells, and the level of IL-17 increase compared with healthy donors. There is an interaction between DMSCs and Th17 cells. The IL-17 might originate from other innate immunocytes rather than Th17 cells.