Since high NTR1 expression was observed in both inflamed colonic tissues4, 5, 6 and in colonic cancer cells8, suppression of miR-133α expression by ZEB1/miR-133α binding in human colonic epithelial cells may play a role in the NTR1/miR-133α19 interactions during colonic inflammation and early cancer development through NTR1 re-sensitization in vitro and in vivo. Here, ZEB1 is linked to malignant colon neoplasm.