Deleting LINC01138 in the pWPXL-IGF2BP1 cells or pWPXL-IGF2BP3 cells significantly inhibited their proliferation and invasion abilities (Fig.7c, d and Supplementary Fig. 13i, j), indicating that LINC01138 is an important downstream effector of IGF2BP1 and IGF2BP3 in HCC cells. Here, IGF2BP1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.