Identifying this subgroup and the mechanisms involved in disease progression can aid in improving treatment planning.(14-17) Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3 – IMP U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein 3) is a fetal oncoprotein expressed during embryogenesis and in malignant tumors, and is a member of a family of three mRNA binding proteins: IMP1, IMP2, and IMP3. Here, IMP3 is linked to cancer.