It has previously been shown that overexpression of let-7c-5p as well as inhibition of miR-501-3p can reduce the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells.33,34 Thus, deregulation of these miRNAs might be related to the relative increase of crypt-bottom [CD44+] cells in active UC when compared to controls, as has been shown in our flow cytometry experiment. Here, CD44 is linked to colorectal cancer.