Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer globally, with an incidence rate ranked just behind lung cancer and breast cancer in women. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enhances the migratory and invasive abilities of tumor cells but is also closely associated with tumor recurrence and drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that regulate the EMT process through various mechanisms and pathways. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the roles and research progress of miRNAs in the regulation of EMT in CRC, providing new insights into the complex regulation of EMT and offering potential strategies for the prevention and treatment of CRC metastasis.
HomeArticlesVol 36,2026 No.1Detail
Research progress on the role of microRNA in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer
Published on Feb. 02, 2026Total Views: 38 timesTotal Downloads: 13 timesDownloadMobile
- Abstract
- Full-text
- References
Abstract
Full-text
References
1.Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries[J]. CA Cancer J Clin, 2024, 74(3): 229-263.
2.任莹, 蒋文婷, 刘苏雅, 等. 术前系统性炎症反应指数-预后营养指数评分对结肠癌根治术后患者预后的影响[J]. 徐州医科大学学报, 2024, 44(1): 25-31. [Ren Y, Jiang WT, Liu SY, et al. The effect of preoperative systemic inflammatory response index and prognostic nutritional index score on the prognosis of patients after colorectal cancer radical surgery[J]. Journal of Xuzhou Medical University, 2024, 44(1): 25-31.]
3.Reeves C. AACR Annual Meeting 2023[J]. Lancet Oncol, 2023, 24(5): e193-e194.
4.Hou J, Guo C, Lyu G. Clinical significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition typing of circulating tumour cells in colorectal cancer[J]. Colorectal Dis, 2020, 22(5): 581-587.
5.Setlai BP, Hull R, Reis RM, et al. MicroRNA interrelated epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in glioblastoma[J]. Genes (Basel), 2022, 13(2): 244.
6.Feng J, Hu S, Liu K, et al. The role of MicroRNA in the regulation of tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition[J]. Cells, 2022, 11(13): 1981.
7.Dongre A, Weinberg RA. New insights into the mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and implications for cancer[J]. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2019, 20(2): 69-84.
8.Mittal V. Epithelial mesenchymal transition in tumor metastasis[J]. Annu Rev Pathol, 2018, 13: 395-412.
9.Buyuk B, Jin S, Ye K. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways responsible for breast cancer metastasis[J]. Cell Mol Bioeng, 2022, 15(1): 1-13.
10.Zhou S, Zhang M, Zhou C, et al. The role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in regulating radioresistance[J]. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol, 2020, 150: 102961.
11.Huang C, Liu H, Yang Y, et al. Berberine suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colon epithelial cells through the TGF-β1/Smad and NF-κB pathways associated with miRNA-1269a[J]. Heliyon, 2024, 10(16): e36059.
12.Pickup M, Novitskiy S, Moses HL. The roles of TGF-β in the tumour microenvironment[J]. Nat Rev Cancer, 2013, 13(11): 788-799.
13.O'Brien SJ, Fiechter C, Burton J, et al. Long non-coding RNA ZFAS1 is a major regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition through miR-200/ZEB1/E-cadherin, vimentin signaling in colon adenocarcinoma[J]. Cell Death Discov, 2021, 7(1): 61.
14.Xie H, Chen J, Ma Z, et al. PrLZ regulates EMT and invasion in prostate cancer via the TGF-β1/p-smad2/miR-200 family/ZEB1 axis[J]. Prostate, 2024, 84(4): 317-328.
15.Paterson EL, Kazenwadel J, Bert AG, et al. Down-regulation of the miRNA-200 family at the invasive front of colorectal cancers with degraded basement membrane indicates EMT is involved in cancer progression[J]. Neoplasia, 2013, 15(2): 180-191.
16.Cottonham CL, Kaneko S, Xu L. miR-21 and miR-31 converge on TIAM1 to regulate migration and invasion of colon carcinoma cells[J]. J Biol Chem, 2010, 285(46): 35293-35302.
17.Han S, Wang D, Huang Y, et al. A reciprocal feedback between colon cancer cells and Schwann cells promotes the proliferation and metastasis of colon cancer[J]. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 2022, 41(1): 348.
18.Lin TA, Lin WS, Chou YC, et al. Oxyresveratrol inhibits human colon cancer cell migration through regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and microRNA[J]. Food Funct, 2021, 12(20): 9658-9668.
19.Li X, Wu Y, Tian T. TGF-β signaling in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): from underlying mechanism to potential applications in clinical development[J]. Int J Mol Sci, 2022, 23(22): 14436.
20.Wu S, Wang Y, Yuan Z, et al. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote breast cancer MCF7 cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition by cross interacting with the TGF-β/Smad and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways[J]. Mol Med Rep, 2019, 19(1): 177-186.
21.Zhang Y, Wang X. Targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in cancer[J]. J Hematol Oncol, 2020, 13(1): 165.
22.Clevers H, Nusse R. Wnt/β-catenin signaling and disease[J]. Cell, 2012, 149(6): 1192-1205.
23.Chen X, Tu J, Liu C, et al. MicroRNA-621 functions as a metastasis suppressor in colorectal cancer by directly targeting LEF1 and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling[J]. Life Sci, 2022, 308: 120941.
24.Yu W, Zhu K, Wang Y, et al. Overexpression of miR-21-5p promotes proliferation and invasion of colon adenocarcinoma cells through targeting CHL1[J]. Mol Med, 2018, 24(1): 36.
25.Ning X, Wang C, Zhang M, et al. Ectopic expression of miR-147 inhibits stem cell marker and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related protein expression in colon cancer cells[J]. Oncol Res, 2019, 27(4): 399-406.
26.Sun R, Liu Z, Han L, et al. miR-22 and miR-214 targeting BCL9L inhibit proliferation, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by down-regulating wnt signaling in colon cancer[J]. FASEB J, 2019, 33(4): 5411-5424.
27.Chen Y, Jiang J, Zhao M, et al. microRNA-374a suppresses colon cancer progression by directly reducing CCND1 to inactivate the PI3K/AKT pathway[J]. Oncotarget, 2016, 7(27): 41306-41319.
28.Zhao Z, Qin X. MicroRNA-708 targeting ZNF549 regulates colon adenocarcinoma development through PI3K/AKT pathway[J]. Sci Rep, 2020, 10(1): 16729.
29.Pan S, Ren F, Li L, et al. MiR-328-3p inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in colorectal cancer by targeting Girdin and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway[J]. Exp Cell Res, 2020, 390(1): 111939.
30.Cong K, Li CG, Wei YH, et al. MicroRNA-760 inhibits the biological progression of colorectal carcinoma by directly targeting FOXA1 and regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway[J]. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2019, 23(13): 5730-5740.
31.Jassi C, Kuo WW, Chang YC, et al. MicroRNA-376a-3p sensitizes CPT-11-resistant colorectal cancer by enhancing apoptosis and reversing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the IGF1R/PI3K/AKT pathway[J]. Transl Oncol, 2024, 50: 102125.
32.Sun X, Li K, Wang H, et al. MiR-483 promotes colorectal cancer cell biological progression by directly targeting NDRG2 through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition[J]. J Healthc Eng, 2022, 2022: 4574027.
33.Chen J, Zhang H, Chen Y, et al. miR-598 inhibits metastasis in colorectal cancer by suppressing JAG1/Notch2 pathway stimulating EMT[J]. Exp Cell Res, 2017, 352(1): 104-112.
34.Li J, Peng W, Yang P, et al. MicroRNA-1224-5p inhibits metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer by targeting SP1-Mediated NF-κB signaling pathways[J]. Front Oncol, 2020, 10: 294.
35.Wang L, Jiang F, Ma F, et al. MiR-873-5p suppresses cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via directly targeting Jumonji domain-containing protein 8 through the NF- κB pathway in colorectal cancer[J]. J Cell Commun Signal, 2019, 13(4): 549-560.
36.Ma ZH, Shi PD, Wan BS. MiR-410-3p activates the NF-κB pathway by targeting ZCCHC10 to promote migration, invasion and EMT of colorectal cancer[J]. Cytokine, 2021, 140: 155433.
37.Yao F, Hu B, Li S, et al. miR-105-5p/PTEN axis modulates the immune response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colon cancer via NF-κB activation[J]. J Biochem Mol Toxicol, 2025, 39(1): e70103.
38.Sun M, Song H, Wang S, et al. Integrated analysis identifies microRNA-195 as a suppressor of Hippo-YAP pathway in colorectal cancer[J]. J Hematol Oncol, 2017, 10(1): 79.
39.Hong YG, Xin C, Zheng H, et al. miR-365a-3p regulates ADAM10-JAK-STAT signaling to suppress the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells[J]. J Cancer, 2020, 11(12): 3634-3644.
40.Bai J, Zhang X, Shi D, et al. Exosomal miR-128-3p promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells by targeting FOXO4 via TGF-β/SMAD and JAK/STAT3 signaling[J]. Front Cell Dev Biol, 2021, 9: 568738.
41.Ye Q, Su L, Chen D, et al. Astragaloside IV induced miR-134 expression reduces EMT and increases chemotherapeutic sensitivity by suppressing CREB1 signaling in colorectal cancer cell line SW-480[J]. Cell Physiol Biochem, 2017, 43(4): 1617-1626.
42.Hu JH, Tang HN, Wang YH. Cancer-associated fibroblast exosome LINC00355 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer through the miR-34b-5p/CRKL axis[J]. Cancer Gene Ther, 2024, 31(2): 259-272.
43.Peng C, Li X, Yao Y, et al. MiR-135b-5p promotes cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer by regulating FOXN3[J]. Cancer Biol Ther, 2024, 25(1): 2373497.
44.Li Q, Liang X, Wang Y, et al. miR-139-5p inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhances the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by downregulating BCL2[J]. Sci Rep, 2016, 6: 27157.
45.Feng C, Zhang L, Sun Y, et al. GDPD5, a target of miR-195-5p, is associated with metastasis and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer[J]. Biomed Pharmacother, 2018, 101: 945-952.
46.Lin X, Wang S, Sun M, et al. miR-195-5p/NOTCH2-mediated EMT modulates IL-4 secretion in colorectal cancer to affect M2-like TAM polarization[J]. J Hematol Oncol, 2019, 12(1): 20.
47.Zhang Y, Zheng L, Huang J, et al. MiR-124 radiosensitizes human colorectal cancer cells by targeting PRRX1[J]. PLoS One, 2014, 9(4): e93917.
48.Findlay VJ, Wang C, Nogueira LM, et al. SNAI2 modulates colorectal cancer 5-fluorouracil sensitivity through miR145 repression[J]. Mol Cancer Ther, 2014, 13(11): 2713-2726.
49.Ren LL, Yan TT, Shen CQ, et al. The distinct role of strand-specific miR-514b-3p and miR-514b-5p in colorectal cancer metastasis[J]. Cell Death Dis, 2018, 9(6): 687.
50.Wu Z, Zhao X, Sun Y, et al. Curcumin suppresses colorectal cancer development with epithelial-mesenchymal transition via modulating circular RNA HN1/miR-302a-3p/PIK3R3 axis[J]. J Physiol Pharmacol, 2022, 73(2).
51.Xu K, Tao W, Su Z. Propofol prevents IL-13-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human colorectal cancer cells[J]. Cell Biol Int, 2018, 42(8): 985-993.
52.Han W, Kong D, Lu Q, et al. Aloperine inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation and metastasis progress via regulating miR-296-5p/STAT3 axis[J]. Tissue Cell, 2022, 74: 101706.
53.Karimi DF, Saidijam M, Amini R, et al. Resveratrol inhibits proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by increasing miR-200c expression in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells[J]. J Cell Biochem, 2017, 118(6): 1547-1555.
54.Kim HY, Kim YM, Hong S. Astaxanthin suppresses the metastasis of colon cancer by inhibiting the MYC-mediated downregulation of microRNA-29a-3p and microRNA-200a[J]. Sci Rep, 2019, 9(1): 9457.
55.Shen A, Lin W, Chen Y, et al. Pien tze huang inhibits metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma cells via modulation of TGF-β1/ZEB/miR-200 signaling network[J]. Int J Oncol, 2015, 46(2): 685-690.
Popular Papers
-
Mediating effects of social support and health literacy on self-efficacy and self-advocacy in patients with postoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer
Aug. 25, 20259569
-
Frontier progress and future strategies in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis
Aug. 25, 20258911
-
Analysis of depression burden and attribution risk factors among Chinese adolescents aged 10~24 from 1990 to 2021
Sep. 26, 20258677
-
Analysis of cancer disease burden in China from 1990 to 2021
Aug. 25, 20256964
-
A case report on chemotherapy-free treatment for small cell lung cancer
Aug. 25, 20255086
-
The disease burden of infertility in China from 1992 to 2021 based on an age-period-cohort model
Sep. 26, 20254872
-
Systematic review and Meta-analysis of prediction models: a case study on the risk prediction model for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Aug. 25, 20254717
-
Prediction of incidence and mortality rates of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China from 2022 to 2026: based on GM(1,1) and ARIMA models
Sep. 26, 20254709
-
Research progress on neutrophil extracellular traps in tumors
Sep. 26, 20254515
-
Systematic evaluation of predictive models for deep vein thrombosis risk in patients undergoing hip surgery
Aug. 25, 20254372
-
Relationship between the ratio of non-HDL-C and HDL-C and the risk of all-cause mortality in a population with abnormal glucose metabolism: base on CHARLS database
Aug. 25, 20254275
-
A study on the implementation and effect of formative evaluation ability training for clinical teachers
Sep. 26, 20254248
-
The association between sleep duration, overweight/obesity, and multimorbidity among primary care medical staff
Sep. 26, 20254238
-
Progress of gut microbiota in tumor immunotherapy
Sep. 26, 20254227
-
Relationship between serum NF-κB, CXCL13, ADAM17 levels and prognosis in children with primary immune thrombocytopenia
Sep. 26, 20254196
Welcome to visit Zhongnan Medical Journal Press Series journal website!