OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of Survivin (SVV) protein in colorectal carcinogenesis and its clinical significance. METHODS Immunohistochemistry staining was performed by two-step EnVision technique for the paraffin sections, which included 90 adenomas, 25 ademomas with high-grade glandular intraepithelial neoplasia, and 108 colorectal adenocarcinomas.

RESULTSExpressions of SVV, P53, and Bcl-2 were observed in tumor cells of the sections. The positive rate of SVV in tubular adenomas, villous adenomas, and tubulovillous adenomas were 30% (12/40), 40.9% (9/22), and 35.8% (10/28), respectively. The positive rate of SVV in tubulovillous adenomas with high-grade glandular intraepithelial neoplasia were 68% (17/25). The positive rate of SVV in carcinomas of stage A, B, and C were 75% (27/36), 81.3% (26/ 32), and 95% (38/40), respectively. SVV expressions among the three types of adenomas without neoplasia were not significantly different (P > 0.05). SVV expression between each type of the above-mentioned ademoma and tubulovillous adenoma with high-grade glandular intraepithelial neoplasia or different Dukes stages of colorectal carcinoma was significantly different (P < 0.05). SVV expressions in adenocarcinomas and adenomas with high grade glandular intraepithelial neoplasia were significantly higher than those in adenomas (P < 0.01). The expressions of P53 and Bcl-2 had no significant difference among them. No association was noted between SVV expression and P53 or Bcl-2 expression (P = 0.487, P = 0. 437).

CONCLUSIONSSVV is abnormally expressed in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis, which may be correlated with the carcinogenesis of colorectal ademoma. SVV expression may be useful to distinguish adenocarcinoma from adenoma in colorectal carcinogenesis.