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Published on: April 5, 2024
The role of survivin for radiation therapy. Prognostic and predictive factor and therapeutic target
Gianni Capalbo1, Claus Rödel, Roland H Stauber
1Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. gianni.capalbo@kgu.de
Background:
Survivin, the smallest member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, is a bifunctional protein that has been implicated in both control of cell division and inhibition of apoptosis.
Material And Methods:
This review specially focuses on clinical and experimental data on the relevance of survivin in radiooncology and its role as a therapeutic target to radiosensitize tumor cells.
Results:
As compared to normal tissue, survivin is overexpressed in tumors and appears to be closely related to tumor malignancy and treatment response. In addition, survivin is involved in the resistance of tumor cells to both chemotherapy and ionising irradiation. Due to these properties, survivin has been proposed as an attractive target for anticancer therapies. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that suppression of survivin, by the use of antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, ribozymes and the application of dominant negative mutants, increases apoptosis, diminishes tumor cell survival and reduces tumor growth potential.
Conclusion:
Survivin displays a relevant prognostic and predictive factor as well as a promising molecular target to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy.
Insights
Survivin, a protein involved in cell division and apoptosis inhibition, is overexpressed in tumors and linked to malignancy. Targeting survivin shows promise for improving cancer radiotherapy effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Radiotherapy
Background:
- Survivin is the smallest member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family.
- It is a bifunctional protein regulating cell division and apoptosis.
- Survivin is implicated in cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical and experimental data on survivin's relevance in radiooncology.
- To explore survivin's role as a therapeutic target for radiosensitizing tumor cells.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical and experimental data.
- Analysis of survivin's role in tumor cell resistance to radiation.
- Evaluation of preclinical studies on survivin suppression strategies.
Main Results:
- Survivin is overexpressed in tumors compared to normal tissues.
- Survivin overexpression correlates with tumor malignancy and treatment response.
- Suppression of survivin increases apoptosis and reduces tumor growth.
Conclusions:
- Survivin is a prognostic and predictive factor in cancer.
- Survivin is a promising molecular target to enhance radiotherapy effectiveness.
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