Transfection of lung cancer cells with IGFBP-3 inhibited spheroid growth as well as growth of cells seeded in an ECM-based gel, and IGFBP-3 treatment of lung cancer cells stimulated apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo in mice [239], as well as inhibiting proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cells [240]; it may act by preventing and even reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition [241]. Here, IGFBP3 is linked to lung carcinoma.