Importance of mir-411-5p in colorectal cancer

The abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a key role in colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study attempted to identify the potential miRNA biomarkers of CRC due to the important role of microRNAs within the DLK1-DIO3 genomic region, especially the role of mir-411-5p in other cancers. This prospective study characterized the contribution of mir-411-5p to CRC tumorigenesis. The Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription –polymerase chain reaction was used to examine miR-411-5p expression levels prospectively in 40 pairs of samples of CRC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues (>2 cm from cancer tissue). Also, the relationship between miR-411-5p expression levels and clinicopathological characteristics was explored. The capability of miR-411-5p to function as a tumor marker in CRC was also examined. MiR-411-5p was significantly downregulated in a group of CRC samples compared with matched noncancerous tissues. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve also showed ROC area of 68% for miR-411-5p (P value=0.006) with 70% and 65% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. According to the survey results, miR-411-5p might be considered as a tumor marker in CRC and it might be a promising therapeutic option which may help prevent CRC.