The marked species difference in the imprint status of this tumor suppressor gene between mice and humans provides a plausible explanation for the enhanced sensitivity of mice to tumor formation, and also has implications concerning carcinogen risk assessment based on animal models. It also suggests that people who are imprinted at this locus would be predisposed to cancer. De Souza, A.T., Yamada, T., Mills, J.J., and Jirtle, R.L. Imprinted genes in liver carcinogenesis.
II receptor is an early event in liver carcinogenesis.