MicroRNA-10b is upregulated and has an invasive role in colorectal cancer through enhanced Rhoc expression.

We found that the difference in miR‑10b expression between the tumor tissue and adjacent non‑tumor tissue was significant. Outer periphery and portal vein serum miR‑10b concentrations were significantly higher than those of the control. However, the outer periphery vein miR‑10b concentrations were not significant when compared with the portal vein serum concentration in colorectal cancer. The expression levels of miR‑10b were associated with higher‑grade colorectal cancer. MiR‑10b levels were markedly elevated in lymph node metastasis-positive tumor tissue compared with those in lymph node metastasis-free tumor tissue, and were correlated with a downregulation in Hoxd10 expression. Rhoc protein expression in tumor tissue was significantly amplified when compared to that of the control tissue group. An inverse correlation between Hoxd10 and Rhoc in immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis was observed (P<0.05). MiR-10b expression was also inversely correlated with Hoxd10 protein expression (P<0.05). Thus, miR‑10b is potentially involved in the invasion of colorectal cancer.