CO-EXPRESSIONS OF SURVIVIN GENE, BCL-2 AND BAX PROTEINS IN OVARIAN CARCINOMA

To characterize the cellular properties of ovarian cancer, we examinea the corrtation between the expression of apoptosis-related gene survivin and those of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. Methods Expressions of survivin mRNA, and Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in 35 cases of ovarian carcinoma, 10 cases of borderline carcinoma, 10 cases of benign tumors and 10 cases of normal tissue were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry SABC method, respectively. Results Expression of survivin gene was detected in a significantly greater proportion in ovarian carcinoma and borderline carcinoma than those in benign tumors and normal tissues. Although there was no relationship between expression of survivin gene and FIGO stage, histologic grade, pathological type and lymphatic metastasis, expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were positively and negatively correlated with that of survivin gene , respectively. Conclusion Survivin may play an important role in pathogenesis of ovarian carcinoma, with a synergistic role of apoptosis-related gene Bcl-2 protein and an antagonistic role of Bax protein in formation and progression of ovarian carcinoma.