title: Relation between expression pattern of p53 and survivin in cutaneous basal cell carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The tumor suppressor gene p53 is a key regulator of cell division and/or apoptosis. Survivin is a multifunctional member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family. Survivin and p53 represent diametrically opposed signals that influence the apoptotic pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the role of p53 and survivin in basal cell carcinoma (BCC), we evaluated the expression pattern of both proteins with regard to the percentage of positively immunostained tumor cells, the intensity of staining, and subcellular localization among 31 subjects with BCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overexpression of p53 protein was found in 28 of 31 cases (90.3%), whereas survivin accumulation was seen in 27 (87.1%). For p53, moderate and/or strong immunoreactivity was seen in 20 of 28 cases (71.4%), and 26 of 28 cases (92.9%) showed more than 25% reactive tumor cells. Nuclear p53 staining was detected in 23 of 28 cases (82.1%), whereas combined nuclear and cytoplasmic localization was found in only 5 of 28 cases (17.9%). Survivin revealed mild intensity of immunoreaction in 22 of 27 cases (71%), and 25 of 27 cases (92.6%) showed less than 25% labeled tumor cells. Combined nuclear and cytoplasmic survivin localization was present in 26 of 27 cases (96.3%). Statistically significant differences were detected in the assessed expression parameters between those proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that overexpression of wild type p53 protein may suppress the expression of survivin and its antiapoptotic activity in BCC cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Martin, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamkov
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halasova
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rajcani
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bencat
authors.forename: Desanka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vybohova
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rybarova
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galbavy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021381:Protein Transport; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53