Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
Survivin expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: its prognostic impact and splice variant expression
Shinsuke Takeno1, Shin-Ichi Yamashita, Yoshiaki Takahashi
1Department of Oncological Science (Surgery II), Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan. akeno@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Purpose:
The present study examined the clinicopathological impact of survivin expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In addition, the biological role of anti-apoptosis parameter in ESCC was examined immunohistochemically.
Patients And Method:
Subjects comprised 71 patients followed up for 5 years after surgery for ESCC and analysed immunohistochemically to examine the clinicopathological impact of survivin expression. Separately, 37 fresh frozen samples of ESCC obtained recently were examined concerning splicing variant expression of survivin using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results:
Immunohistochemical survivin expression was detected in the nuclei of 10 ESCC specimens (14.1%) and cytoplasm of 22 specimens (31.0%). Nuclear expression displayed no clinicopathological implications, but cytoplasmic expression correlated with histological differentiation (p=0.002) and tumour invasion (p=0.073) and showed prognostic impacts in univariate (p=0.0184) and multivariate (p=0.0299) analyses. Survivin, survivin-2B and survivin-deltaEx3 mRNA were amplified in 31 (83.8%), 23 (62.2%) and 26 (70.3%) specimens, respectively, by RT-PCR. Survivin-2B level related significantly with histological differentiation (p=0.038), but no other significant implication was identified between any mRNA and clinicopathological factors.
Conclusion:
As a molecular biological anti-apoptotic factor, survivin expression was of use in assessing prognosis in ESCC. Inhibition of survivin may be useful as a molecular biological therapy in ESCC.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Splicing
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...