Diverse Biological Functions of IGF2BPs in Hepatobiliary Cancers and Their Clinical Relevance

Hepatobiliary malignancies remain a major clinical challenge because they are highly aggressive and resistant to therapy. In eukaryotes, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent internal RNA modification, regulates post-transcriptional gene expression. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BP1/2/3) act as pivotal m6A readers, stabilizing coding and non-coding RNAs to modulate cancer-related signaling networks. In hepatobiliary cancers, dysregulated IGF2BP expression is associated with proliferation, metastasis, metabolic adaptation, and immune evasion, underscoring its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic targets. This review provides a comprehensive overview of IGF2BP-mediated regulatory mechanisms and explores their translational potential in precision diagnostics and targeted interventions.