Expression of survivin and its significance in colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of survivin, a novel member of inhibitors of apoptosis protein (IAP) and its significance in colorectal carcinoma.


METHODS
Survivin mRNA expression was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 52 colorectal carcinoma samples and 48 adjacent normal colorectal tissue samples. PCR product was sequenced to verify the desired result. Expressions of survivin protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index (PI) and apoptotic index (AI) were detected immunohistochemically in 52 human colorectal carcinomas.


RESULTS
The expression of survivin mRNA was detected in a significantly greater proportion of colorectal carcinoma samples than in adjacent normal colorectal tissues (67.3% vs 25%; P<0.01). There was no relationship between survivin mRNA expression in colorectal carcinomas and sex, tumor size, histological types, lymphnode metastasis, distant metastasis and Dukes' stage. The PCR product shared 99% of homology with human counterparts. Survivin expression was observed immunohistochemically in 27 of 52 cases of colorectal carcinoma (51.9%). The AI was significantly lower in survivin positive group than in survivin negative group (0.67+/-0.18% vs 1.14+/-0.42%; P<0.001), while the PI was greater in survivin positive group than in survivin negative group (51+/-22% vs 27+/-18%, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Survivin is a special tumor marker independent of histopathological characteristics. It may play an important role during human colorectal tumorigenesis by inhibiting apoptosis and accelerating proliferative activity of colorectal tumor cells.
Chen
Wei-Chang
WC
Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China. cwc-sz@hotmail.com
Liu
Qiang
Q
Fu
Jian-Xin
JX
Kang
Su-Ya
SY
D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077022:Survivin
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D017931:DNA Primers; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin