MiR-30a-5p Suppresses the ERK Signaling Pathway by Targeting Vimentin to Inhibit the Migration and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Colorectal Cancer Cells.

MicroRNAs regulate development, progression, and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although miR-30a-5p participates in the pathogenesis of various malignancies, detailed molecular mechanisms in CRC remain largely uncharacterized. By analyzing GEO public datasets and performing RT-qPCR, we determined that miR-30a-5p was downregulated in CRC. Functional assays confirmed that miR-30a-5p overexpression inhibited the migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CRC cells. Mechanistically, miR-30a-5p directly targeted vimentin, thereby suppressing downstream ERK signaling pathway activation. Taken together, our findings indicate that miR-30a-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in CRC, suggesting that the miR-30a-5p/vimentin axis represents a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment.