Expression Of Survivin Gene And Its Relationship With The Expression Of P53,bcl-2 Proteins In Retinoblastoma

Objective:to explore the expression of Survivin gene and its relationship with the clinicopathological features and the expression of p53> bcl-2 proteins in retinoblastoma. Methods:Expression of Survivin > p53 and bcl-2 proteins were detected with 3 monoclonal antibodies respectively by Streptavidin-peroxidase (S-P) two-step method. To evaluate the expression of Survivin, only cytoplasmic staining equivalent to normal control was considered positive, while for p53, only nucleic staining equivalent to normal control was considered positive, for bcl-2 cell membrane/cytoplasmic staining equivalent to normal control was considered positive. For Survivin, p53 and bcl-2 proteins, those slides exhibiting diffuse immunostaining or presenting more than 10% were classified as (+) and those with immunoreactivity less than 10% were classified as (-). Results:Twenty out of 38 cases of retinoblastoma expressed Survivin while none of 6 cases of normal retinal tissue expressed Survivin. 25 out of 38 cases of retinoblastoma expressed p53 while none of 6 cases of normal retinal tissue expressed p53.18 out of 38 cases of retinoblastoma expressed bcl-2 while none of 6 cases of normal retinal tissue expressed bcl-2. Frequency of survivin, p53 and bcl-2 was 52.6%, 65.8% and 47.4%, respectively. Survivin expression did not correlate withsex of patient (P=0.8249), disease staging (P=0.4626) and histologic type (P =0.2224). p53 and bcl-2 expression were significantly related with histologic type of retinoblastoma, but was not related with sex of patient and disease staging( P >0.05). There was significant correlation between survivin expression and mutant p53 (P =0.0085) and bci-2 (P =0.0217). Conclusion:Survivin, p53 and bcl-2 are up-regulated in retinoblastoma which implies that they might take part in carcinogenesis of retinoblastoma to some extent. Interaction among Survivin, p53 and bcl-2 might participate in carcinogenesis of retinoblastoma.