SNHG20 acts as a sponge for miR-495. (A) Predicted binding site of SNHG20 with miR-495, as determined by bioinformatics analysis. (B and C) miR-495 expression levels were significantly decreased in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines (SW620, HT-29, HCT116, SW480). (D) Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis indicated that miR-495 expression was significantly increased in miR-495 mimic-transfected cells, whereas miR-495 expression was significantly decreased in miR-495 inhibitor-transfected cells. (E) Luciferase reporter assay indicated that SNHG20-WT activity was inhibited following transfection of the cells with miR-495 mimics in HCT116 and SW480 cells. (F) SNHG20 knockdown increased the relative expression of miR-495 in HCT116 and SW480 cells. (G) Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that SNHG20 expression was negatively associated with miR-495 in CRC tissues. (H) RNA immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated enrichment of SNHG20 and miR-495 in Ago2-containing beads. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. FHC cells or as indicated. SNHG20, small nucleolar RNA host gene 20; CRC, colorectal cancer; miR, microRNA; WT, wild-type; MUT, mutant; si-, small interfering RNA; NC, negative control.