MicroRNA‑500a‑5p inhibits colorectal cancer cell invasion and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition

The development of malignant tumors is a series of complex processes, the majority of which have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the microRNAs (miRNAs/miR) that affect the migration and invasion abilities of CRC cells. Our previous reports have revealed that miR500a5p suppressed CRC cell growth and malignant transformation. The present study demonstrated that overexpression of miR500a5p reduced the expression of vimentin, while increasing the expression of Ecadherin. Inhibition of miR500a5p resulted in spindlelike morphological changes and reorganization of Factin in CRC cells. Furthermore, miR500a5p attenuated the transforming growth factorbeta signaling pathway in EMT. Additionally, emodin inhibited the miR500a5p inhibitor and suppressed the EMT process. In animal models of metastasis using nude mice, EMT and LoVo cell metastasis was modulated by miR500a5p. Therefore, the findings of the present study demonstrated that miR500a5p is associated with a positive therapeutic outcome in terms of invasion/migration of CRC cells and mesenchymallike cell changes.