Study Of Correlation Of Caspase-7, Caspase-3 And Survivin In Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy For Breast Neoplasm

Objective: To explore the relationship between caspase-7, caspase-3,survivin and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast neoplasm, and the correlation of caspase-7, caspase-3 and survivin.Methods: The expression of caspase-7, caspase-3 and survivin in 34 samples formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary breast neoplasm received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in our hospital from August 2004 to July 2006 was examined by immunohistochemical staining with anti-caspase-7 monoclonal antibody, anti-caspase-3 monoclonal antibody and anti-survivin multiclonal antibody respectively.Results: After chemotherapy, the positive rate of caspase-7 in 34 samples significantly decreased, P=0.001(70.59%vs29.41%), but the positive rate of caspase-3 (88.24%vs70.59%) and survivin(76.47%vs58.82%)did not. There were no significant correlation between their status before chemotherapy and efficacy of chemotherapy, P>0.05. There was no significant relationship among their expression intensity before chemotherapy, P>0.05. After chemotherapy, caspase-7 expression intensity was correlated with caspase-3(r=0.614, P=0.000) and survivin(r=0.437,P=0.010)respectively,and caspase-3 intensity was related with survivin, r=0.857, P=0.000. The change of expression intensity of caspase-7 before chemotherapy and after chemotherapy was positive relationship with caspase-3(r=0.512, P=0.002), and negatively correlated with survivin(r=-0.414, P=0.015). The change of survivin was negatively related with caspase-3(r=-0.299, P=0.086), with no statistic significance.Conclusions: The decreased expression of survivin in breast neoplasm may suggest the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but can not be a predictor like caspase-7 and caspase-3. Caspase-7 expression was related with caspase-3, and may be independent on caspase-3, with their expression regulated by survivin.