LAUSR

MicroRNA‐520e (miR‐520e) is increasingly being recognized as a cancer‐related miRNA in multiple cancer types; however, little is known about its role in colorectal cancer. In this study, we determined the specific role of miR‐520e in colorectal cancer. Expression of miR‐520e was lower in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Overexpression of miR‐520e significantly decreased the proliferation, colony formation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells, while inhibition of miR‐520e exhibited the opposite effect. Moreover, miR‐520e was found to target the 3′‐untranslated region of astrocyte elevated gene‐1 (AEG‐1) and inhibit AEG‐1 expression in colorectal cancer cells. An inverse correlation between miR‐520e and AEG‐1 expression was confirmed in colorectal cancer tissues. Notably, miR‐520e suppressed the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β and decreased the expression of β‐catenin, leading to inactivation of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in colorectal cells. A rescue assay confirmed that miR‐520e regulates cell proliferation, invasion and Wnt/β‐catenin signalling through targeting AEG‐1. Taken together, these results indicate that miR‐520e plays a critical role in regulating colorectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting Wnt/β‐catenin signalling via AEG‐1. Our study highlights the importance of the miR‐520e/AEG‐1/Wnt/β‐catenin signalling axis in colorectal cancer, thus targeting miR‐520e may represent an effective therapeutic strategy.