Mechanisms and clinical uses of miRNAs in colorectal cancer.

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are key regulators involved in various tumors. Recently, it has become clear that aberrant miRNA expression has a functional role in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Distinct miRNA expression profiles have cancer- specific patterns and are associated with diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic outcome in CRC. Many studies have shown that the miRNA play an important role in carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis by regulating multiple target gene expressions and should be early detection biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CRC. Here we review the mechanisms and clinical uses of representative miRNAs in colorectal cancer.