[Expression of survivin and its correlation to angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Survivin can block the cell apoptosis through inhibiting the functions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-7, and selectively overexpresses in common human cancers. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Survivin on tumorigenesis and development of oral cancer and its correlation to angiogenesis.


METHODS
The expression of Survivin in 8 specimens of normal oral mucosa, 14 specimens of dysplastic leukoplakia and 47 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and the expression of CD34 in the 47 specimens of OSCC was detected by SP immunohistochemistry. Microvessel density (MVD) was also assessed. The correlations of Survivin expression to MVD and clinicopathologic features of the OSCC patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
The positive rates of Survivin were 0% in normal oral mucosa, 14.24% in dysplastic leukoplakia, and 55.32% in OSCC. Survivin expression was significantly stronger in OSCC than in normal oral mucosa and dysplastic leukoplakia (P < 0.05), while there was no difference between the last 2 groups (P > 0.05). Survivin expression was significantly stronger in moderately and poorly differentiated OSCC than in well differentiated OSCC (P < 0.05); the positive rate of Survivin was significantly higher in OSCC with lymph node metastasis than in OSCC without lymph node metastasis(71.43% vs. 38.89%, P < 0.05). In OSCC, MVD was increased (25.87 +/- 12.10, 28.70 +/- 7.69, 35.42 +/- 10.09, 41.13 +/- 9.62, respectively) along with the strengthened Survivin expression (-, +, 2+, 3+) (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Survivin expression is up-regulated in OSCC, and closely related with tumor cell differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and MVD; it may play an important role in tumorigenesis and development of OSCC.
Department of Stamotology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing, 100050, PR China. selma2@sina.com
Yan-Mei
YM
Liu
Jian-Hua
JH
Huang
De-Yun
DY
Feng
Xin-Cheng
XC
Guo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077022:Survivin; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018952:Antigens, CD34; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000077022:Survivin