Survivin expression in glioblastomas correlates with proliferation, but not with apoptosis.
BACKGROUND
Survivin is expressed in proliferating tissues and in tumors. It is a member of the inhibitory apoptosis protein (IAP) family known to regulate mitosis and to inhibit apoptosis. It has therefore been regarded as a target for therapies. In malignant gliomas it increases with malignancy, even though in glioblastomas it does not seem to correlate with outcome.


METHODS
Survivin was immunohistochemically studied in 39 selected viable glioblastoma areas belonging to 20 cases which were assayed for apoptosis, using a TUNEL assay, caspase-3, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP-1), Bid (BH3-interacting domain death agonist) and with the proliferation index Ki-67/MIB-1 and mitotic index (MI).


RESULTS
A positive linear correlation was found between the survivin labelling index (LI) and the Ki-67/MIB-1 LI and MI. No inverse correlation was found with apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This double behavior can be attributed to mechanisms mediating survivin activity, either as a mitosis regulator and apoptosis inhibitor, and should be taken into account in therapeutic strategies using survivin.
Mellai
Marta
M
Neuro-bio-oncology Center of Policlinico di Monza Foundation and Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Pietro Micca, 29, 13100 Vercelli, Italy.
Caldera
Valentina
V
Patrucco
Alessia
A
Annovazzi
Laura
L
Schiffer
Davide
D
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000077022:Survivin
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000077022:Survivin