MicroRNA-378 inhibits cell growth and enhances L-OHP-induced apoptosis in human colorectal cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that participate in a variety of biological processes, and dysregulation of miRNAs is widely associated with cancer development and progression. MiR-378 is frequently downregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal cell lines; however, it has high serum levels. Bioinformatics analysis further deduced that CDC40 is a potential target of miR-378, and luciferase reporter assays confirmed the direct regulation of CDC40 by miR-378. CDC40 plays a key role in cell cycle progression through G1/S and G2/M and pre-mRNA splicing. Subsequently, we determined that miR-378 inhibits cell growth and the G1/S transition in CRC cells and that these effects were CDC40-dependent. Finally, miR-378 increased cell apoptosis induced by the chemotherapeutic drug L-OHP. Our data highlight the potential application of miR-378 as a tumor suppressor for CRC therapy and overcoming chemoresistance, and it may also be a potential tumor marker for CRC prognosis.