m

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A methylation is the most frequent modification of mRNA in eukaryotes and plays a crucial role in cancer progression by regulating biological functions. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BP) are newly identified m

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A ‘readers’. They belong to a family of RNA-binding proteins

which bind to the m

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A sites on different RNA sequences and stabilize them to promote cancer progression. In this review

we summarize the mechanisms by which different upstream factors regulate IGF2BP in cancer. The current literature analyzed here reveals that the IGF2BP family proteins promote cancer cell proliferation

survival

and chemoresistance

inhibit apoptosis

and are also associated with cancer glycolysis

angiogenesis

and the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore

with the discovery of their role as ‘readers’ of m

6

A and the characteristic re-expression of IGF2BPs in cancers

it is important to elucidate their mechanism of action in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We also describe in detail the regulatory and interaction network of the IGF2BP family in downstream target RNAs and discuss their potential clinical applications as diagnostic and prognostic markers

as well as recent advances in IGF2BP biology and associated therapeutic value.