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World J Biol Chem. Aug 26, 2014; 5(3): 301-307
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v5.i3.301
MicroRNA regulation network in colorectal cancer metastasis
Jiao-Jiao Zhou, Shu Zheng, Li-Feng Sun, Lei Zheng
Jiao-Jiao Zhou, Shu Zheng, Li-Feng Sun, Department of Surgical Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Jiao-Jiao Zhou, Shu Zheng, Li-Feng Sun, The Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Lei Zheng, Departments of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
Lei Zheng, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
Lei Zheng, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, 1650 Orleans Street, Bunting-Blaustein Building Room 488, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this work.
Supported by NIH K23 CA148964, to Zheng L; Lefkofsky Family Foundation, to Zheng L; the NCI SPORE in Gastrointestinal Cancers P50 CA062924, to Zheng L; the Zhang Family Gift Fund, to Zheng L
Correspondence to: Lei Zheng, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, CRB1 Room 488, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. lzheng6@jhmi.edu
Telephone: +1-410-5026241 Fax: +1-410- 4168216
Received: November 23, 2013
Revised: March 19, 2014
Accepted: May 31, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Processing time: 292 Days and 9.6 Hours
Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. Metastasis is a major cause of colorectal cancer-related death. Mechanisms of metastasis remain largely obscure. MicroRNA is one of the most important epigenetic regulators by targeting mRNAs post-transcriptionally. Accumulated evidence has supported its significant role in the metastasis of colorectal cancer, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. Dissecting microRNAome potentially identifies specific microRNAs as biomarkers of colorectal cancer metastasis. Better understanding of the complex network of microRNAs in colorectal cancer metastasis provide new insights in the biological process of metastasis and in the potential targets for colorectal cancer therapies and for diagnosis of recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer.

Keywords: MicroRNAs; Colorectal neoplasms; Neoplasm metastasis

Core tip: MicroRNA is one of the most important epigenetic regulators by targeting mRNAs post-transcriptionally. This article has reviewed the new evidence that has supported the significant role of microRNAs in the metastasis of colorectal cancer. Better understanding of the complex network of microRNAs in colorectal cancer metastasis provide new insights in the biological process of metastasis and in the potential targets for colorectal cancer therapies and for diagnosis of recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer.