So-Yeon Park, Mücahit Varlı, Hangun Kim
Aberrant epigenetic regulation of microRNAs and their targets contributes to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. This study examined the methylation-dependent regulation of the miR-124-KITENIN axis and its clinical significance in CRC. Site‑specific hypermethylation within the KITENIN (VANGL1) locus, particularly at cg00819310, was associated with poorer patient survival. miR-124, a direct negative regulator of KITENIN, was frequently hypermethylated and transcriptionally silenced, leading to KITENIN upregulation. Treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored miR-124 expression and reduced KITENIN levels in CRC cells. These results demonstrate that miR-124 silencing enhances KITENIN activation and CRC progression, supporting miR-124 methylation as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target.