miR‐140‐3p affected proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis in CRC cells by regulating BCL9 and BCL2. miR‐140‐3p silenced HCT 116 cells were co‐transfected with BCL9 siRNA or siNC. (A) Cell viability. (B & C) Transwell migration and invasion assay. Scale bar, 100 μm. (D) The protein level of BCL9, E‐cadherin, and Vimentin. miR‐140‐3p silenced HCT 116 cells were co‐transfected with BCL2 siRNA or siNC. (E) Apoptosis assay was performed by FACS. (F) Apoptosis was evaluated by Hoechst staining. Scale bar, 50 μm. (G) BCL2 expression in HCT 116 cells co‐transfected with miR‐140‐3p inhibitor and BCL2 siRNA. Data in panel A were presented by mean ± SD with repeated measures ANOVA (n = 3). Data in B–G were calculated from two‐tailed unpaired t test (n = 3)