Expression of survivin Protein and Its Relationship with Caspase-3, DFF45 Protein in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective To investigate the expression of survivin protein in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)and the clinicalpathological characteristic of lung cancer, to evaluate the relationship between expression of survivin,caspase-3 and DFF45 proteins. Methods The expression of surviving and caspase-3, and DFF45 proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 10 normal bronchial epithelium, and 60 NSCLC and 10 metastatic carcinoma of lymph node.Results The expression of survivin protein was detected in a significantly greater proportion in NSCLC(70%) and metastatic carcinoma of lymph node(90%) than normal bronchial epithelium(10%). The up-regulation expression of survivin was related to the TNM stages(P 0.05), cell differentiation(P 0.01) and lymph node metastases(P 0.05), but no relation with age, sex and histological subtype(P 0.05). Expression of caspase-3 was negatively(P 0.01;r= -0.335) and DFF45 positively correlated with expression of survivin(P 0.01;r= 0.406). Conclusion survivin may play an important role in the progression of NSCLC and be identified as a defining diagnostic marker. survivin is worthy of analyzing malignant grade and judging the prognosis of NSCLC.Survivin can resist cell apoptosis by restrainting caspase-3 expression.