MiR-140-5p was found to target SMAD2 as part of the TGF-β/SMAD2/SMAD3 pathway and ATG12 in autophagosome formation, which suggests that miR-140-5p can regulate the stemness of CRC CSCs via the TGF-β pathway and through the autophagy of CRC CSCs. This evidence concerns the gene ATG12 and colorectal carcinoma.