Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 1, 2004; 10(13): 1984-1988
Published online Jul 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i13.1984
Influence of survivin and caspase-3 on cell apoptosis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma
Yun-Hong Li, Chen Wang, Kui Meng, Long-Bang Chen, Xiao-Jun Zhou
Yun-Hong Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Chen Wang, Medical College of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu Province, China
Long-Bang Chen, Department of Oncology, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University/Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Command, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Kui Meng, Xiao-Jun Zhou, Department of Pathology, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University/Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Command, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Yun-Hong Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Gulou Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. liyunhong37@vip.sina.com.cn
Telephone: +86-25-86522328 Fax: +86-25-83307016
Received: December 23, 2003
Revised: January 8, 2004
Accepted: January 15, 2004
Published online: July 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the role of survivin and caspase-3 in apoptosis of gastric carcinoma, as well as in prognosis of patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: Expressions of survivin and caspase-3 were investigated immunohistochemically in 80 gastric carcinoma patients without a history of chemo-radiation therapy. Tumor cell apoptosis was examined by TUNEL method.

RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that survivin expression was positive in 61 of 80 patients (76%) with gastric carcinoma. In contrast, no expression of survivin in adjacent normal tissues was detected. Expression level of caspase-3 was higher in normal tissues than in carcinoma. Patients with higher expression of survivin had worse histological grades and pathological stages. Expression of caspase-3 was significantly associated with histological stages, but not with the pathological stages. Although survivin expression in carcinoma was not inversely related to caspase-3, patients with survivin (-) and caspase-3 (+) had the maximum apoptosis index.

CONCLUSION: Expression level of survivin was associated with histological grades and pathological stages of the tumor, indicating that survivin may be a poor prognosis factor for gastric carcinoma. Unlike caspase-3, survivin (an apoptosis inhibitor) can markedly inhibit the apoptosis of tumor cells.

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