title: Validation of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for the quantification of 3 survivin transcripts and evaluation in breast cancer tissues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Survivin is a novel antiapoptotic gene, which is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family. Recently, 3 splice variants of this gene were cloned and characterized. This study aimed to validate a sensitive and specific method for the detection of survivin variants in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed on the cDNA with a reverse primer specific for each splice variant and a pair of common hybridization probes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of wild-type survivin was significantly correlated with survivin-2b, survivin-ΔEx3, and the ratio of survivin-ΔEx3 to wild-type survivin (P < .001). The ratio of survivin-2b to wild-type survivin was strongly associated with the ratio of survivin-ΔEx3 to wild-type survivin (P < .001). There was a strong positive association between the grade of the tumor and survivin-2b mRNA, survivin-ΔEx3 mRNA, and the ratio of survivin-ΔEx3 to wild-type survivin mRNA (P < .05). The ratio of survivin-2b to wild-type survivin was significantly associated with the presence of estrogen receptors (P = .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our validated data suggest that survivin isoforms may be related to clinicopathological features and could be used as molecular prognostic tools or as new therapy targets.
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Haidari, Greece.
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Pavlidou
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Haidari, Greece. Electronic address: ckroupis@med.uoa.gr.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Kroupis
authors: Anatomic Pathology Laboratory, Evgenidio Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Haidari, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Goutas
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Haidari, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Dalamaga
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Haidari, Greece.
authors: Kleanthi
authors: K
authors: Dimas
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077022:Survivin
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000077022:Survivin
keywords: Apoptosis; Dual hybridization probes; Prognostic biomarkers; Survivin splice variants; qPCR