LASP2 suppressed malignancy and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation in bladder cancer

LIM and SH3 Protein 2 (LASP2), a member of the nebulin family of actin-binding proteins, is associated with the development of cancers. However, little was known about the role of LASP2 in human bladder cancer. In the current study, LASP2 expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis in bladder cancer cell lines and tissue samples. The role of LASP2 in cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and angiogenesis was explored. The association between prognostic outcomes and LASP2 expression were examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. LASP2 expression was decreased in bladder cancer cells and tissues. LASP2 expression was associated with tumor size (P=0.016) and T classification (P=0.001). Patients with lower LASP2 expression had shorter overall and recurrent-free survival times. Overexpression of LASP2 inhibited and silencing of LASP2 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells, and angiogenesis in bladder cancer. Furthermore, it was determined that the tumor suppressing effect of LASP2 may be associated with the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. LASP2 may represent a novel and useful prognostic indicator, and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer.