Expression of a novel apoptosis inhibitor-Survivin in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective Survivin, one of the inhibitory protein of apoptosis, is selectively expressed in the tissue of malignant tumors. The present study was to investigate the role of Survivin expression in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Two HCC cell lines, forty histologically verified HCC specimens and their neighboring noncancerous tissues were obtained. Western blotting was used to test protein expression of Survivin. Semi quantitative RT PCR was used to measure Survivin mRNA levels. TUNEL was employed to examine the apoptosis index of HCC tissues. Results Survivin protein and mRNA expression were detected in 2 HCC cell lines and 34 of 40 (85.0%) HCC tissues. In contrast, no expression of Survivin in corresponding noncancerous tissues was detected. The positivity rate of Survivin expression in cases of intrahepatic metastasis was 93.5%, higher than that without intrahepatic metastasis (55.6%, P 0.05), and the rate of Survivin expression in the cases of portal vein invasion was 92.8%, higher than that without portal vein invasion (66.7%, P 0.05). The levels of Survivin mRNA in cases of intrahepatic metastasis and portal vein invasion were significantly higher than those without intrahepatic metastasis (1.105±0.396 vs 0.572 ±0.082) and portal vein invasion (1.137±0.404 vs 0.627±0.122) respectively ( P 0.05). Survivin expression was found significantly associated with reduced apoptosis index (1.152%± 0.326 % vs 4.502% ±0.830% of no expression, P 0.05) by using TUNEL. Conclusions Survivin expression may play an important role in HCC carcinogenesis and is associated with reduced apoptosis index.