NEU1 and colorectal cancer: For example, a decrease in NEU activity was identified as a significant contributor to cancer progression by Miyagi et al.,132 who also reported in their study on HT-29 colon cancer cells that NEU1 overexpression resulted in a significant reduction in liver metastasis.132 The proposed mechanism for reduced metastasis involves a decrease in β4-integrin sialylation, which thereby suppresses cell migration, invasion and adhesion.133 Conversely, NEU1 and NEU4 downregulation have been reported to facilitate metastasis in colorectal cancers.132,134