In vitro induced overexpression of miR-497 was found to be reduced in CRC tissues, inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of CRC cells, and reduced phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling by targeting insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), a downstream insulin signaling mediator. The gene discussed is WNK2; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.