[Expression of survivin gene and its significance in the carcinogenesis and development of non-small cell lung cancer].

BACKGROUND: To study the expression of survivin mRNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to explore its relationship with carcinogenesis, development invasion and metastasis of NSCLC. METHODS: In situ hybridization was applied to detect survivin mRNA expression in 12 normal bronchial epithelium, 9 dysplasia, 34 NSCLC and 12 metastatic lymph nodes. The relationship between survivin expression and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. RESULTS: In normal bronchial epithelium, dysplasia, NSCLC and metastatic lymph nodes, the positive rate of survivin mRNA expression were 16.67% (2/12), 33.33% (3/9), 61.76% (21/34), and 91.67% (11/12), respectively. There were significant differences in survivin mRNA expression between lung cancer and normal bronchial epithelium ( P < 0.01), as well as between metastatic lymph nodes and normal bronchial epithelium ( P < 0.001). There were remarkably higher survivin mRNA expressions in poor- and moderate-differentiated groups than that in well-differentiated group ( P =0.003, P =0.004). The expression of survivin mRNA was not related to histologic classification and lymph node status ( P > 0.05, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Survivin mRNA expression may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of NSCLC. It may be a new target in gene therapy of lung cancer through blocking or down-regulating survivin mRNA expression to recover the normal regulation mechanism of apoptosis.