Expression and significance of Survivin and P53 in reactive and neoplastic astrocytes

Objective To study the expression of Survivin and p53 gene products in reactive and neoplastic astrocytoma and analysie the relationship with the tumorgenesis and progression of human astrocytomas.Methods Immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray techniques were used to determine the expression of Survivin and P53 protein in 49 cases of astrocytes proliferation,49 cases of low-grade astrocytomas,and 50 cases of high-grade astrocytomas,12 cases of normal brain tissues were used as controls.Results In 12 cases of normal brain tissues,the staining were all negative.In reactive astrocytes,low-grade astrocytomas and high-grade astrocytomas,the positive staining of Survivin protein were 26.7%,53.2%,88.1%,respectively,and the positive staining of P53 protein were 23.8%,53.7%,79.5%,respectively.Among the three experimental groups,there were all statisticaly significant in expressions of Survivin and P53(P0.05).The expression of Survivin was positively associated with P53 protein(P0.01).Conclusion ①Survivin and P53 protein are overexpressed in reactive astrocytes and astrocytomas to a certain extent,and the positive rate of expression gradually improves with the histological grade becoming more serious.②The overexpression of Survivin and the inactivation of P53 might be the early event in the tumorgenesis and progression of human astrocytomas.Survivin and P53 might be combined utilized to discriminate between reactive astrocytes proliferation and low-grade astrocytomas and to provide evidences for earlier diagnosis of astrocytoma.