How does survivin work?
Survivin is the smallest member of the Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins, involved in inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle. These functional attributes make Survivin a unique protein exhibiting divergent functions i.e. regulating cell proliferation and cell death.
How does survivin inhibit apoptosis?
Survivin is the smallest member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, which has key roles in regulating cell division and inhibiting apoptosis by blocking caspase activation. Survivin is highly expressed in most human cancers, such as lung, pancreatic and breast cancers, relative to normal tissues.
What is survivin gene?
Survivin, also called baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 or BIRC5, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the BIRC5 gene. Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family.
What is a characteristic of all cancer cells?
Cancer cells grow and divide at an abnormally rapid rate, are poorly differentiated, and have abnormal membranes, cytoskeletal proteins, and morphology.
Is survivin an oncogene?
Survivin can be regarded as an oncogene as its aberrant overexpression in most cancer cells contributes to their resistance to apoptotic stimuli and chemotherapeutic therapies, thus contributing to their ongoing survival.
What do cancer cells lack?
Some cancer cells may lack the adhesion molecules that cause stickiness, and are able to detach and travel via the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other regions of the body—they have the ability to metastasize.
Is there a role for survivin in cancer treatment?
Survivin, a cancer target with an emerging role in normal adult tissues Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, is highly expressed in most cancers and associated with chemotherapy resistance, increased tumor recurrence, and shorter patient survival, making antisurvivin therapy an attractive cancer treatment strategy.
What is survivin?
Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein and is expressed in a large number of malignancies 4. Its expression levels correlate with more aggressive disease and poor clinical outcome. Survivin expression is minimal in normal tissues, therefore, it has become a lead target for both as a tumour diagnostic,…
Is survivor a cancer target in normal adults?
Survivin, a cancer target with an emerging role in normal adults tissues. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006;5:1087–98. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Why is survivin such a high target for cancer drug development?
The differential expression of survivin in cancer cells compared to normal tissues and its role as a nodal protein in a number of cellular pathways make it a high target for different therapeutics.