Importantly, ETS1, IGF2 and FOXM1 were inversely correlated with miR-4521 and E-cadherin, whereas ETS1 expression was positively associated with IGF2 and FOXM1 expression in GC tissues (Fig. 6b), further confirming the ETS1-miR-4521-IGF2/FOXM1 regulatory axis in GC. This evidence concerns the gene IGF2 and gastric cancer.