Influence of survivin and caspase-3 on cell apoptosis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of survivin and caspase-3 in apoptosis of gastric carcinoma, as well as in prognosis of patients with gastric carcinoma.


METHODS
Expressions of survivin and caspase-3 were investigated immunohistochemically in 80 gastric carcinoma patients without a history of chemo-radiation therapy. Tumor cell apoptosis was examined by TUNEL method.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical analysis showed that survivin expression was positive in 61 of 80 patients (76%) with gastric carcinoma. In contrast, no expression of survivin in adjacent normal tissues was detected. Expression level of caspase-3 was higher in normal tissues than in carcinoma. Patients with higher expression of survivin had worse histological grades and pathological stages. Expression of caspase-3 was significantly associated with histological stages, but not with the pathological stages. Although survivin expression in carcinoma was not inversely related to caspase-3, patients with survivin (-) and caspase-3(+) had the maximum apoptosis index.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression level of survivin was associated with histological grades and pathological stages of the tumor, indicating that survivin may be a poor prognosis factor for gastric carcinoma. Unlike caspase-3, survivin (an apoptosis inhibitor) can markedly inhibit the apoptosis of tumor cells.
Li
Yun-Hong
YH
Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. liyunhong37@vip.sina.com.cn
Wang
Chen
C
Meng
Kui
K
Chen
Long-Bang
LB
Zhou
Xiao-Jun
XJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000077022:Survivin
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases