SMAD1 and colorectal carcinoma: 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).