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Published on: February 6, 2015

Survivin signaling in clinical oncology: a multifaceted dragon

Jagat R Kanwar1, Sishir K Kamalapuram, Rupinder K Kanwar

  • 1Nanomedicine-Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biomedical Research, Centre for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Institute for Technology & Research Innovation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. jagat.kanwar@deakin.edu.au

Medicinal Research Reviews
|June 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Survivin, a key protein in cancer, regulates cell division and death. Understanding its complex roles and targeting it with nanotechnology offers new cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family member highly expressed in various clinical cancers.
  • Its complex functional mechanisms in cell division and death present challenges for current therapeutic strategies in translational oncology.
  • Survivin's significance in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy is not fully decoded due to its intricate roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles and mechanistic actions of survivin in diverse clinical cancers.
  • To discuss the involvement of survivin in various cell-signaling cascades.
  • To explore the application of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of survivin's function and regulation in cancer.
  • Analysis of survivin's involvement in key signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K/AKT, MAPK, STAT, HIF-1α, EGFR, VEGF).
  • Discussion of nanotechnology-based approaches for survivin-targeted drug delivery.

Main Results:

  • Survivin plays a complex role in cell division and apoptosis, impacting cancer progression.
  • Pharmacological modulation of survivin is linked to numerous cell-signaling cascades.
  • Nanotechnology offers potential for targeted tumor delivery, detection, and treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Survivin is a critical target in oncology due to its roles in cell division and death.
  • Targeting survivin through novel drug delivery systems, particularly nanotechnology, holds promise for improved cancer treatment.
  • Further research into survivin's mechanisms and nanodelivery systems is crucial for advancing cancer therapy.

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