BACKGROUNDTo study the expression of survivin mRNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to explore its relationship with carcinogenesis, development invasion and metastasis of NSCLC.

METHODSIn situ hybridization was applied to detect survivin mRNA expression in 12 normal bronchial epithelium, 9 dysplasia, 34 NSCLC and 12 metastatic lymph nodes. The relationship between survivin expression and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTSIn normal bronchial epithelium, dysplasia, NSCLC and metastatic lymph nodes, the positive rate of survivin mRNA expression were 16.67% (2/12), 33.33% (3/9), 61.76% (21/34), and 91.67% (11/12), respectively. There were significant differences in survivin mRNA expression between lung cancer and normal bronchial epithelium ( P < 0.01), as well as between metastatic lymph nodes and normal bronchial epithelium ( P < 0.001). There were remarkably higher survivin mRNA expressions in poor- and moderate-differentiated groups than that in well-differentiated group ( P =0.003, P =0.004). The expression of survivin mRNA was not related to histologic classification and lymph node status ( P > 0.05, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSurvivin mRNA expression may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of NSCLC. It may be a new target in gene therapy of lung cancer through blocking or down-regulating survivin mRNA expression to recover the normal regulation mechanism of apoptosis.