Expression Of Survivin In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma And Analysis Of Its Correlation With COX-2

Objective: To examine the expression of a new member of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family, survivin, and its correlation with the expression of COX-2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: In 50 oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues and 10 normal oral mucosa tissues, the expression of survivin and COX-2 were examined by using the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase (S-P) method. Results: In contrast to negative expression in normal oral mucosa, survivin was expressed in 42 of 50 (84%) cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma samples. There was no significant correlation between survivin expression and age and sex. In squamous cell carcinoma tissues, the expression of Survivin gene stepped up following malignant degree, but the positive rate of Survivin was not statistically significant. The expression of survivin was positively correlated with that of COX-2 (rs=0.610, P<0.05 ). Conclusions: Survivin may play an important role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of Survivin is closely correlated with COX-2 expression, it was speculated that there may be a common transcription mechanism which constructed multiple pathways contributing to the inhibition of apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.