miR-34a inhibits colon cancer proliferation and metastasis by inhibiting platelet-derived growth factor receptor α

The microRNA (miRNA), miR-34a is significant in colon cancer progression. In the present study, the role of miR-34a in colon cancer cell proliferation and metastasis was investigated. It was found that the expression of miR-34a in colon cancer tissues and cell lines was lower when compared with that of normal tissues and cells. Further research demonstrated that miR-34a inhibited cell proliferation, induced G(1) phase arrest, and suppressed metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells. Bioinformatic prediction indicated that platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (PDGFRA) was a potential target gene of miR-34a and a luciferase assay identified that PDGFRA was a novel direct target gene of miR-34a. In addition, assays of western blot analyses and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed that miR-34a decreased PDGFRA mRNA expression and protein levels in colon cancer cells. Assessment of cellular function indicated that miR-34a inhibited colon cancer progression via PDGFRA. These findings demonstrate that miR-34a may act as a negative regulator in colon cancer by targeting PDGFRA.