Its ectopic expression has been shown to improve treatment efficacy in radio- and chemo-resistant cancer cells by sponging oncomirs, thereby regulating tumor-suppressive effects by upregulating genes like reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK), dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 2 (DKK2), immediate early response 3 (IER3) and phospholysine phosphohistidine inorganic pyrophosphate phosphatase (LHPP). This evidence concerns the gene IER3 and cancer.