While transfection of four responsive CRC cell lines with miR-18b-3p, miR-145-3p, miR-1181, miR-376b-3p and miR-718 mimics, in combination with metformin treatment, showed no consistent pro-apoptotic function in CRC cell lines, miR-676-3p did exert a pro-apoptotic function by increasing caspase 3/7 activation by 103%, 36% and 47% in control medium and 103%, 58% and 71% in combination with metformin in HCT116, DLD1 and HT29 cell lines, respectively (P < 0.05 HCT116, P < 0.05 for DLD1 and P < 0.001 for HT29, respectively), Supplementary Fig. 7. The gene discussed is CASP3; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.