[The expression of LTBP2 in breast cancer and its clinical significance].

Objective: To explore the expression of latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta binding protein 2 (LTBP2) in breast cancer and its clinical significance. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of LTBP2 in 125 cases of breast cancer tissue and normal breast tissue. Relationship between the expression of LTBP2 and estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki67, and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer were analyzed. Results: The positive expression of LTBP2 in breast cancer tissues (55.20%) was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal breast tissues (28.80%) ( P <0.001). The expression of LTBP2 in breast cancer tissues was correlated with the clinical stage (χ(2)=4.516, P =0.034), over-expression of ER (χ(2)=7.112, P =0.008) and Ki67(χ(2)=4.024, P =0.045) and other adverse prognostic factors. Conclusion: Positive expression of LTBP2 in breast cancer plays an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer, and may be a marker of prognosis of patients.