The probable explanations for contradictive function of IGF2BP1 might result from the cell-specific differences and the endogenous difference between non-metastatic cells and metastatic cells, for example, the significantly high promoter methylation of IGF2BP1 in metastatic breast tumor cells compared with that in non-metastatic breast tumor cells results in the more common silence events of IGF2BP1. The gene discussed is IGF2BP1; the disease is breast neoplasm.