A surreal illustration of miR-944 protecting the colon from cancer.

Cracking the Code: How a Primate-Specific MicroRNA Could Revolutionize Colorectal Cancer Treatment

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Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the potential of miR-944 in activating p53-dependent tumor suppression and transforming the future of cancer therapy."


Colorectal cancer is a pervasive global health challenge, ranking among the most common cancers worldwide. While advancements in early detection and treatment have improved outcomes, the disease often exhibits high recurrence rates, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Recent research has shed light on the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) – small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression – in cancer therapy.

MicroRNAs play a crucial role in various biological processes, including cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and senescence. Given the deregulation of these processes in cancer development, miRNAs have emerged as key players in carcinogenesis. Among these, a primate-specific miRNA called miR-944 has garnered attention for its unique expression pattern and potential tumor-suppressing capabilities.

Intriguingly, miR-944 is highly expressed in patients with low colorectal cancer recurrence rates. However, the precise biological functions of miR-944 in colorectal cancer have remained elusive. A groundbreaking study has now uncovered that miR-944 acts as a tumor suppressor by activating p53-dependent tumor suppression, offering new hope for improved colorectal cancer treatment.

Decoding miR-944: The Science Behind the Suppression

A surreal illustration of miR-944 protecting the colon from cancer.

The recent study delved into the mechanisms through which miR-944 exerts its tumor-suppressing effects. Researchers found that miR-944 is downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues, suggesting its loss contributes to cancer progression. By overexpressing miR-944, they observed a significant inhibition of cancer cell growth in a xenograft mouse model, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent.

Further investigation revealed that miR-944 overexpression leads to G1 phase arrest and increased p53 expression in cancer cells. This is crucial because p53, often dubbed the "guardian of the genome," plays a vital role in preventing cancer development by inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, or DNA repair in response to cellular stress. The study highlighted that miR-944 enhances p53 stability by targeting E3 ubiquitin ligases COP1 and MDM2, which are responsible for p53 degradation. By inhibiting these ligases, miR-944 effectively protects p53 from being broken down, allowing it to accumulate and exert its tumor-suppressing functions.

  • Downregulation in Cancer: miR-944 is found to be less active in colorectal cancer tissues, hinting at its potential role in preventing cancer.
  • Growth Inhibition: Boosting miR-944 levels significantly hindered cancer cell growth in animal models, showcasing its therapeutic promise.
  • P53 Activation: Overexpression of miR-944 led to cell cycle arrest and increased levels of p53, a critical tumor-suppressing protein.
  • Targeting E3 Ligases: miR-944 enhances p53 stability by zeroing in on and neutralizing COP1 and MDM2, enzymes that typically degrade p53.
  • Restoring Cell Growth: By bringing back COP1 and MDM2, the cell growth inhibition caused by miR-944 was reversed, confirming the specificity of miR-944's action.
To validate these findings, the researchers overexpressed COP1 and MDM2, which restored cell growth in miR-944-treated cancer cells. This confirmed that miR-944's tumor-suppressing activity is indeed mediated through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a critical pathway involved in protein degradation and regulation.

Hope on the Horizon: The Future of Colorectal Cancer Therapy

This groundbreaking research highlights the potential of miR-944 as a novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer. By activating p53-dependent tumor suppression through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, miR-944 offers a unique approach to combating this prevalent disease. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical applications of miR-944 and its potential to revolutionize colorectal cancer treatment.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.10.029, Alternate LINK

Title: Primate-Specific Mir-944 Activates P53-Dependent Tumor Suppression In Human Colorectal Cancers

Subject: Cancer Research

Journal: Cancer Letters

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Yoon-Jin Kim, Jeong Hwa Lee, Soll Jin, Jung Hoon Kim, Sang Hoon Kim

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What exactly is miR-944, and how does it relate to cancer treatment?

miR-944 is a microRNA, a small non-coding RNA molecule, that is found only in primates. It has shown promise in colorectal cancer treatment. It works by enhancing the tumor-suppressing protein p53. It's a unique approach because it targets a specific molecule, offering a new strategy for treating this common cancer.

2

Why is the p53 protein so crucial in the context of cancer?

p53 is often called the "guardian of the genome." It's a protein that is vital for preventing cancer. When cellular stress occurs, p53 causes the cell cycle to stop, triggers cell self-destruction (apoptosis), or initiates DNA repair. The activation of p53 by miR-944 is significant because it enhances the body's natural defenses against cancer development.

3

What makes the discovery of miR-944 significant for colorectal cancer treatment?

Colorectal cancer is a widespread global health issue. It is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers. The high recurrence rates seen after treatment underscore the need for more effective therapies. This research offers a novel target with miR-944, a primate-specific microRNA, that may lead to improved outcomes in colorectal cancer treatment.

4

How does miR-944 function to suppress tumors?

miR-944 works by stabilizing and increasing the levels of p53. It does this by targeting E3 ubiquitin ligases COP1 and MDM2. These ligases are responsible for breaking down p53. By inhibiting COP1 and MDM2, miR-944 allows p53 to accumulate and function, leading to tumor suppression.

5

What specific effects did the researchers observe when studying miR-944's impact on cancer cells?

The study showed that when miR-944 is introduced into cancer cells, it leads to G1 phase arrest, a halt in the cell cycle. This prevents the cells from growing and dividing. Also, by inhibiting COP1 and MDM2, miR-944 ensures that p53 remains active. This cascade of events inhibits cancer cell growth and showcases miR-944's potential as a therapeutic agent.

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