These findings, along with the identification of IGF2BP3 as a newly characterized m6A lncRNA-binding protein and in conjunction with our earlier experiments shown in Fig. 3, suggest that IGF2BP3 might specifically interact with MALAT1 to increase its stability in a m6A site-dependent manner in HBV/HBx-related HCC. Here, IGF2BP3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.