CASP9 and cancer: The importance of miR-143 due to its involvement in different aspects of cancer has been reviewed previously.23-25 According to the literature, the downregulation of miR-143 is correlated with cancer growth, apoptosis, and metastasis.26,27 These events could be potentially due to the lack of regulatory effects of miR-143 on K-Ras, C-Myc, two matrix metalloproteinase genes (MMP9 and MMP13), Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9.6,28-32 K-Ras is an important signaling molecule in viable cells.