Interestingly, MALAT1 can also act as a sponge for miR-26a-5p, reversing the inhibition of Smad1 by miR-26a-5p to elicit Smad1 upregulation; Smad1 can bind to the ATG5 promoter, induce the transcription of ATG5 to activate autophagy, promoting proliferation and metastasis in HT29 and SW1116 human CRC cells (47). Here, MALAT1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.