SLC26A4 and cancer: Meanwhile, SLC26A4-AS1 is thought to act as a cancer suppressor in tumors.13 Notably, miR-3174 was reported to have an oncogenic role in different tumors, including rectal cancer.14,15 The bioinformatics site predicted the presence of binding sites between SLC26A4-AS1 and miR-3174, prompting speculation about their potential efficacy in diagnosing and treating rectal cancer.