IGF1R and cancer: The increased expression of the latter has an important role in colon cancer cell proliferation, invasion and resistance to apoptosis by activation of survival signalling pathways, in particular, the PI3K/Akt pathway.3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Targeting IGF1-R is in development for clinical use in the treatment of cancer.46, 47 Our results suggest that restoration of the expression of miR-497 may be a useful alternative strategy for inhibition of IGF1-R in CRC.