Consistently, the shRNA-mediated silencing of ITGA1 in SW480 cells led a significant decreased number of Ki67-positive cells in tumor xenograph tissue relative to the control cells (p<0.01) (Fig. 7E and 7F. Taken together, these results suggest that ITGA1 plays an important role in regulating progressive properties and tumorigenesis of CRC cells. The gene discussed is MKI67; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.