Based on multiply database interactive verification, miR-338-3p could bind to the 3′- UTRs of MACC1 and MACC1 was one of downstream target genes of miR-338-3p (Fig. 1f,g, Additional file 2) which was also demonstrated by several independent reports in different cancer cells using dual-luciferase reporter assay or biotin-avidin pull-down assay [24–29]. Here, MACC1 is linked to cancer.