hTERT can regulate CRC via multiple pathways; for example, hTERT can be upregulated at the mRNA and protein level by KRT23 to promote CRC growth (Zhang N. et al., 2017), and CRC proliferation can be increased through the circFMN2/miR-1182/hTERT axis (Li et al., 1979). Here, KRT23 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.