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Survivin as a target for new anticancer interventions.
Nadia Zaffaroni1, Marzia Pennati, Maria Grazia Daidone
1Dipartimento di Oncologia Sperimentale, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. nadia.zaffaroni@istitutotumori.mi.it
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|June 21, 2005
Summary
Survivin protein promotes cancer cell survival and resistance to cancer therapies. Inhibiting survivin can increase cancer cell death and sensitivity to treatments, making it a promising anticancer target.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family member, regulates cell division and apoptosis.
- Its anti-apoptotic function involves direct or indirect inhibition of caspases.
- Survivin is highly expressed in human neoplasms and contributes to tumor resistance against anticancer agents and radiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate survivin as a potential target for novel anticancer interventions.
- To evaluate the effects of down-regulating survivin expression or function on tumor cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing preclinical models (in vitro and in vivo) of various human tumor types.
- Employing strategies such as antisense oligonucleotides, dominant negative mutants, ribozymes, small interfering RNAs, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to down-regulate survivin.
Main Results:
- Down-regulation of survivin significantly increased the apoptotic rate in tumor cells.
- Reduced tumor growth potential was observed following survivin inhibition.
- Survivin-targeted strategies sensitized tumor cells to various chemotherapeutic drugs and gamma-irradiation.
Conclusions:
- Survivin is a critical factor in cancer cell survival and therapeutic resistance.
- Targeting survivin effectively enhances apoptosis and tumor cell sensitivity to anticancer treatments.
- Survivin represents a promising therapeutic target for developing new cancer interventions.