Expression of survivin and its relation to p53 in gallbladder cancer

Objective To investigate the expression and its relation to p53 in gallbladder cancer. Methods The expression of survivin and p53 was determined with immunohistochemistry in samples from 45 cases of gallbladder, 20 chronic cholecystitis, 20 polypoid lesions of gallbladder (PLG) and 10 healthy individuals. Results Amongst the 45 cases of gallbladder cancer, 40 expressed survivin and 34 expressed p53. Of the 34 p53-positive cases, 31 were positive for expression of survivin. Survivin was not found in tissues of chronic cholecystitis, PLG and normal gallbladder. The expression of survivin in gallbladder cancer was not related to age, gender, tumor size, pathological grade, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P0. 05) but that of p53 was associated with lymph node metastasis (P0. 01). Conclusions Survivin might be correlated with the occurrence of gallbladder cancer. Joint action of survivin and p53 mutation on apoptosis inhibition plays an important role in the formation and metastasis of gallbladder cancer.