Quantitatively controlling expression of miR-17~92 determines colon tumor progression in a mouse tumor model

The miRNA cluster miR-17~92 targets mRNAs involved in distinct pathways that either promote or inhibit tumor progression. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying miR-17~92 cluster-mediated protumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic effects have not been studied. Herein, we determined that inhibition of colon cancer progression is dictated by quantitatively controlling expression of the miR-17~92 cluster. miR-19 in the context of the miR-17~92 cluster at medium levels promoted tumor metastasis through induction of Wnt/β-catenin-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting to the tumor-suppressor gene, PTEN. However, higher levels of the miR-17~92 cluster switched from PTEN to oncogenes, including Ctnnb1 (β-catenin) via miR-18a, which resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. However, overexpression of Ctnnb1in tumor cells with high-level miR-17~92 did not lead to an increase in the levels of β-catenin protein, suggesting that other factors regulated by higher levels of miR-17~92 might also contribute to inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. Those unidentified factors may negatively regulate the production of β-catenin protein. Collectively, the data presented in this study revealed that higher levels of miR-17~92 were a critical negative regulator for activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and could have a potential therapeutic application.