Some studies have confirmed that miR-21 down-regulates four tumour suppressor genes: maspin, programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), tropomyosin1 (TPM1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), which are all involved in tumourigenesis, cell cycle control, apoptosis and metastasis [16–20]. Here, PTEN is linked to neoplasm.