Objective To investigate the expression of miRNA-29a in colorectal cancer, and the effect of miRNA-29a on proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. Methods A total of 195 cases of colorectal cancer were involved in this study. The expression of miRNA-29a in colorectal cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Human colorectal cancer LoVo cell line was cultured. All cells were randomly divided into ASO-miRNA-29a group, ASO-control sequence group and blank control group. MTT and Transwell assay were performed to detect the cell proliferation and invasion, respectively. Results The relative expression level of miRNA-29a in the colorectal cancer tissues was increased when compared with adjacent tissues was [(1.93?±?0.19) vs (1.26?±?0.12), P?0.05]. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that increased expression level of miRNA-29a in colorectal cancer tissues was correlated to TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P?0.05). The relative expression level of miRNA-29a in ASO-miRNA-29a group was lower than the ASO-control group and blank control group (P?0.05). MTT and Transwell assay showed that silencing miRNA-29a compromised cellular proliferation and invasive capability when compared with the ASO-control sequence group and blank control group (P?0.05). Conclusions Enhanced expression of miRNA-29a in colorectal cancer tissues may be involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer.