The expression and correlation of apoptosis related protein survivin and caspase 3 in bladder transitional cell carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the expression of survivin and caspase 3 in the occurrence and progress of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC). Methods The expression of survivin and caspase 3 were detected by Streptavidin-Peroxidase immunohistochemical method and immunoblot method (Western blotting), respectively. The clinical data were analyzed. Results Immunohistochemistry: 61 of 69 cases of BTCC had a positive expression of survivin, while none of the 10 cases in contrast group expressed survivin. 59.4%(41/69) of BTCC had a positive expression of capase 3. But there was no significant difference between the tumor group and the control group. Western blotting: 31 of 33 cases of BTCC had a positive expression of survivin and none in the control group expressed it. 27 of 33 cases expressed caspase 3 but still had no significant difference compared with the control group. Survivin had a more intense expression in grade Ⅲ than in grade Ⅰ of BTCC (P0.05). The expression of survivin and caspase 3 were not related to the tumor stage. And the expression of survivin was not related to the expression of caspase 3. Concution Survivin expressed specifically in BTCC. The up regulation of survivin may suggest a poor differentiation of BTCC.