Abstract:
Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are crucial to cell growth, development, proliferation, and apoptosis in humans. Among IGFBPs, IGFBP2 is recognized as a regulator of insulin-like growth factor (IGF). Besides binding with IGF, IGFBP2 also interacts with extracellular matrix through its specific structure. IGFBP2 promotes the malignant phenotype of tumor by activating several important intracellular signal pathways. IGFBP2 is specifically overexpressed in several malignant tumors, and this overexpression is correlated with patient prognosis. IGFBP2 is regarded as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target. This review briefly summarizes the latest progress of research on the role of IGFBP2 in tumor malignant biological behavior and its clinical application.