Dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA/miR) expression is causally associated with cancer initiation and progression. However, the precise mechanisms by which dysregulated miRNAs induce colorectal tumorigenesis remain unknown. In the present study,… Click to show full abstract
Dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA/miR) expression is causally associated with cancer initiation and progression. However, the precise mechanisms by which dysregulated miRNAs induce colorectal tumorigenesis remain unknown. In the present study, downregulation of miR-34a was identified in colorectal cancer cell lines and clinical specimens. Clinical studies revealed that miR-34a expression was negatively associated with distant metastasis, and positively associated with differentiation and survival of human colorectal cancer specimens. In vitro miRNA functional assays demonstrated that miR-34a bound to the putative 3′-untranslated regions of Notch1 and Jagged1 in SW480 cells, and thereby attenuated the migration and invasion of the colon cancer cells. It was additionally identified that miR-34a downregulated the expression of vimentin and fibronectin via Notch1 and Jagged1. Overall, these data indicate that miR-34a serves a key role in suppressing colorectal cancer metastasis by targeting and regulating Notch signaling.
               
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