Methylation status of miR-23b promoter in CRC cells. (A) Methylation-specific PCR of miR-23b in CRC cells and non-cancerous colorectal tissues. (B) Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis of miR-23b expression subsequent to 5 µM 5-Aza treatment for 72 h. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001. miR-23b, microRNA-23b; CRC, colorectal cancer; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; 5-AZA, 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine; M, methylated; U, unmethylated; NT, non-cancerous tissue.