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Updated: May 28, 2026

Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts
10:33

Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts

Published on: April 29, 2014

NIRF is frequently upregulated in colorectal cancer and its oncogenicity can be suppressed by let-7a microRNA

Feng Wang1, Peng Zhang, Yanlei Ma

  • 1Department of Surgery, Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Cancer Letters
|October 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Np95 ICBP90 RING finger (NIRF) is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC), promoting tumor growth and poor survival. Targeting NIRF with microRNA let-7a offers a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Np95 ICBP90 RING finger (NIRF) is crucial for cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.
  • The specific role of NIRF in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of NIRF in colorectal cancer (CRC).
  • To explore the regulatory relationship between NIRF and microRNA let-7a in CRC.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of NIRF expression in CRC tissues.
  • Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays to confirm let-7a targeting of NIRF.
  • In vitro cell proliferation, cell cycle, and migration assays.
  • In vivo tumorigenicity assays in nude mice.

Main Results:

  • NIRF expression is significantly elevated in CRC tissues and correlates with poorer patient survival.
  • let-7a directly targets and downregulates NIRF expression.
  • Overexpression of let-7a or knockdown of NIRF inhibits CRC cell proliferation, induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and reduces cell migration.
  • Therapeutic administration of let-7a suppressed tumor growth in vivo by reducing NIRF expression.

Conclusions:

  • NIRF plays an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer (CRC).
  • The NIRF-let-7a axis represents a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

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