Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
Survivin and XIAP: two valuable biomarkers in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Thomas A Werner1, Yasemin Tamkan-Ölcek1, Levent Dizdar1
1Department of Surgery (A), Heinrich-Heine-University and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Building 12.46, Moorenstrasse 5, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Background:
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for ∼5% of all thyroid malignancies. To date, surgery is the first-line therapy with curative intention. However, for advanced MTC, conventional chemotherapeutic agents do not provide convincing results. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers that can be antagonised by small-molecule therapeutics may lead to novel encouraging treatment options.
Methods:
Seventy-nine patients with surgically resected and histologically confirmed MTC were included in this study. Tissue microarrays were constructed to assess the relationship between inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) survivin or XIAP expression levels and clinicopathological variables as well as overall survival.
Results:
High survivin or XIAP expression was associated with an advanced T-stage and metastatic disease. Whereas tissue expression levels of survivin correlated with serum calcitonin levels, XIAP was overexpressed in the subgroup of patients with sporadic MTC. Both IAPs were negatively associated with patient survival in the multivariate Cox regressions analysis (survivin: hazard ratio (HR) 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-2.16; P=0.001; XIAP: HR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.16-2.72; P=0.008).
Conclusions:
Survivin and XIAP demonstrate distinct expression patterns in MTCs, which are associated with advanced disease and poor prognosis. We thus provide first evidence that both IAPs might serve as viable targets in patients with MTC.
Insights
In medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), high expression of survivin and XIAP indicates advanced disease and poor prognosis. These proteins are potential therapeutic targets for MTC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare thyroid malignancy with limited treatment options for advanced stages.
- Current therapies lack efficacy, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), specifically survivin and XIAP, in MTC.
- To determine the association between survivin and XIAP expression and clinicopathological features, including patient survival.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-nine patients with surgically resected MTC were analyzed.
- Tissue microarrays were used to assess survivin and XIAP expression levels.
- Statistical analyses, including multivariate Cox regression, were performed.
Main Results:
- High survivin or XIAP expression correlated with advanced T-stage and metastatic disease.
- Survivin expression linked to serum calcitonin levels; XIAP overexpressed in sporadic MTC.
- Both survivin and XIAP were significantly associated with poorer patient survival (HRs > 1.6, P < 0.008).
Conclusions:
- Survivin and XIAP exhibit distinct expression patterns in MTC.
- These IAPs are linked to advanced disease and unfavorable prognosis in MTC patients.
- Survivin and XIAP represent promising therapeutic targets for MTC treatment.
