MiR-542-3p suppresses colorectal cancer progression through targeting survivin

Abstract

Background: miR-542-3p has been reported to be a tumor suppressor in several tumor types, while its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the expression of miR-542-3p and its potential role in human CRC. Methods: Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-542-3p in tissues and plasma of CRC patients. The impact of miR-542-3p on the aggressive phenotypes of CRC cells were evaluated by in vitro functional assays. Luciferase activity assay was conducted to confirm the direct binding of miR-542-3p to survivin. Results: miR-542-3p was decreased in CRC cell lines that derived from metastatic sites. Among the 65 CRC patients enrolled in this study, 63.08% (41/65) had a decreased miR-542-3p expression in cancerous tissues. miR-542-3p expression was associated with lymphovascular invasion (P=0.008), distant metastasis (P=0.006), tumor stage (P=0.034) and patients’ survival (P=0.027). A decreased expression of miR-542-3p in plasma was detected in stage IV patients. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that miR-542-3p could inhibit the aggressive phenotypes of CRC cells. Finally, survivin was identified as a direct target of miR-542-3p in CRC. Conclusions: Decreased expression of miR-542-3p in CRC patients was associated with unfavourable clinicopathological features of the patients. miR-542-3p inhibits the aggressive phenotypes of CRC cell lines. Survivin is a direct target of miR-542-3p in CRC.