Up-regulation of survivin mRNA might be a marker for non-invasive detection of non-small cell lung cancer rather than for prognosis.
BACKGROUND
Survivin suppresses programmed cell death and regulates cell division. To evaluate the prognostic importance of the apoptosis inhibitor survivin for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a study was performed in 64 patients with R0 resections for NSCLC and histopathological stages I-IIIA.


METHODS
Analysis of survivin mRNA expression was performed on 64 paired tumor and normal tissues by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Survivin expression in tumors (median 3.68, min. 0.19, max. 28.63) was significantly higher (p < 0.04) than in corresponding normal tissues (median 1.68, min. 0.03, max. 155.59). Survivin mRNA was up-regulated in tumors of 42 patients (66%). However, survivin overexpression did not correlate with survival of lung cancer patients. There was no significant association of survivin mRNA levels with histological type (p = 0.29), pT (p = 0.41) and pN categories (p = 0.57), grading of the primary tumor (p = 0.45), or histopathological stage (p = 0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
Overexpression of survivin mRNA in NSCLC might be a marker for noninvasive tumor detection, but has no prognostic importance.
Warnecke-Eberz
Ute
U
Department of Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. ute.warnecke-eberz@uk-koeln.de
Baldus
Stephan E
SE
Bollschweiler
Elfriede
E
Hoelscher
Arnulf H
AH
Metzger
Ralf
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000077022:Survivin; D015854:Up-Regulation
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin