The Expression Of Survivin MRNA And Protein In The Epithelial Ovarian Cancers

Objective To study the expression of a novel inhibitor gene of apoptosis, survivin, in epithelial ovarian cancers and its relationship with the histological type, grade and surgical stage of the ovarian cancers.Methods Using semi-quantitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of survivin mRNA and protein in 52 cases of epithelial ovarian cancers and 25 cases of benign epithelial ovarian tumors as well as 20 cases of normal ovarian tissues.Results 1. Survivin mRNA was expressed in 44 of 52(84.6%) cases of epithelial ovarian cancers and in 6 of 25(24%) cases of benign epithelial ovarian tumors and only in 3 of 20(15%) cases of normal ovarian tissues. The expression average quantity of survivin mRNA is 2.461 0.861 in epithelial ovarian cancers, 1.805 + 0.613 in benign epithelial ovarian tumors and 1.712 + 0.543 in normal ovarian tissues, respectively. The expression rate and average quantity of survivin mRNA is significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancers than in benign epithelial ovarian tumors as well as in normal ovarian tissues(P<0.01).2. The expression rate and average quantity of survivin mRNA was higher in stage III, IV (94.4% and 2.610 0.531)than that in stage I , II (62.5% and 2.280 0. 466) (P<0.05). Similarly, the expression rate and average quantity of survivin mRNA was higher in less-differentiated group(G3, 94% and 2.691 +0.501) than in well-differentiated group(G1, G2, 68.4% and 2.231 0.456)(P<0.05).3. Survivin protein was expressed in 34 of 52(65.4%) cases of epithelial ovarian cancers, but no expression of survivin protein was found in benign epithelial ovarian tumors and in normal ovarian tissues. The expression of survivin protein in epithelial ovarian cancers is significantly higher than in benign epithelial ovarian tumors and normal ovarian tissues(P<0.01).4. The expression rate and intensity of survivin protein wasstronger in stage III, IV ( 77.8%)than in stage I , II (37.5%)(P<0.05). Similarly, the expression rate and intensity of survivin protein was stronger in less-differentiated group(G3, 78.8%) than in well-differentiated group(G1, G2,42.1 %)(P<0.05).5. The expression of survivin mRNA and protein has no relationship with the histological type of epithelial ovarian cancers(P>0.05).Conclusions 1. The expression of survivin mRNA and protein was higher inepithelial o varian c ancers than in b enign epithelial o varian tumors a nd n ormal o varian tissues. The results suggest that the inhibitor gene of apoptosis, survivin, might play an important role in the development of epithelial ovarian cancers.2. Overexpression of both survivin mRNA and its protein were related to the tumor grade and clinical stage(P<0.05). The results suggest that surviving may contribute to prognosis and lead to treatments.3. The expression of surviving mRNA and protein is not related to the histological type of ovarian cancers.4. Survivin may be a new target in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancers.