Expression of survivin in CIN and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix

Abstract

Background: Survivin is a novel member of the inhibitors of apotosis proteins (IAP). To evaluate the possible role of survivin in tumorigenesis of CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) and invasive squamous cervical carcinoma of the uterine cervix (SCC), the expression of survivin was studied.

Materials and results: In 41 CIN and SCC tissues, the expression of survivin, Fas-ligand, Fas and bcl-2 was studied by immunohistochemistry. Survivin expression tended to increase along with tumor progression; low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (HSIL, CIN I), 66.7%, high-grade squamous epithelial lesions (HSIL, CIN II and III), 87.5% and SCC, 100% with a statistical significance (p<0.019). Alteration of Fas-ligand, Fas and bcl-2 expression was detected in 12.5%-25% of HSIL and in 7.7%-30.8% of SCC but no abnormal expression was found in LSIL.

Conclusion: Survivin expression seems to be more closely related to the progression of CIN and SCC compared to Fas-ligand, Fas and bcl-2.