[Expression of survivin gene in thyroid carcinoma and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of survivin gene in thyroid carcinoma and its significance.


METHODS
Samples of thyroid carcinoma were collected from 98 patients during operation. Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of survivin in the carcinoma tissue and the tissue around the carcinoma. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptotic index (AI).


RESULTS
Western blotting and RT-PCR methods showed similar results. The positive expression rates of survivin protein and mRNA in the thyroid carcinoma were both 68.37%; however, survivin was not expressed in all of the tissues around the thyroid carcinoma at both the mRNA and protein levels. The expression rate of survivin was closely related to the pathological typing, lymph node metastasis, and hematogenous metastasis. Apoptotic cells were found in all thyroid carcinoma. The mean AI of the surviving positive group was 0.48 +/- 0.38, significantly lower than that of the survivin negative group (2.98 +/- 0.12, P = 0.0082).


CONCLUSIONS
Survivin gene is expressed in most of the thyroid carcinoma. The positive expression rate of survivin is significantly linked to cell proliferating activity, lymph node metastasis, and hematogenous metastasis. Survivin gene will be a new target of gene therapy in thyroid carcinoma.
Xiang
Cheng
C
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150040, China.
Liu
Wei-song
WS
Jia
Shen-shan
SS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077022:Survivin; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin