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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
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Targeting Survivin: Now I Become Death, the Destroyer of Cells

Mia Fanuzzi1,2, Shuhua Zheng2,3, Craig M Horbinski1,2

  • 1Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|December 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Survivin (BIRC5) drives cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Targeting survivin offers a promising strategy for future cancer treatments, though further optimization is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Survivin (BIRC5) is highly expressed in cancers like glioma and breast cancer, promoting tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.
  • Its role in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell proliferation makes it a significant factor in poor patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review preclinical findings on survivin's role in chemoresistance and radioresistance.
  • To summarize the clinical landscape of survivin-targeted therapies, including successes and limitations.
  • To outline strategies for optimizing future survivin-targeted treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical models demonstrating survivin's contribution to therapeutic resistance.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for survivin-targeted strategies.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge to propose future therapeutic directions.

Main Results:

  • Preclinical data confirm survivin's role in chemoresistance and radioresistance.
  • Clinical strategies targeting survivin have shown both promise and limitations.
  • Biomarker-driven patient selection and combination therapies are key for optimization.

Conclusions:

  • Survivin is a critical driver of cancer progression and therapeutic resistance.
  • Targeting survivin presents a promising avenue for cancer therapy development.
  • Future strategies should focus on patient selection and combination approaches for enhanced efficacy.
Keywords:
apoptosisbreast cancerglioblastomasurvivin

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