BACKGROUNDGejiu in Yunnan Province is a region where the incidence of lung cancer is high among the miners of tin mine. Our previous research team successfully induced the malignant transformation of immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) by Gejiu mineral powder in vitro. The objective of this study is to explore the role of survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the pathway of the malignant transformation of BEAS-2B induced by Gejiu mineral powder.

METHODSProtein expression of survivn and PCNA in BEAS-2B cells and its malignant transformation cells was respectively evaluated by immunofluorescence cytochemistry staining technique and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1)The expression of survivin protein was negative in BEAS-2B cells and was positive in its malignant transformation cells by immunofluorescence cytochemistry staining techniques. And the protein level of PCNA was low in BEAS-2B cells and high in its malignant transformation cells. (2)The positive expression of survivin protein in BEAS-2B cells (0/20) was significantly lower than that in its malignant transformation cells (85%, 17/20) by immunohistochemistry (P < 0.001). And the labelling index (LI) of PCNA in BEAS-2B cells was significantly lower than that in its malignant transformation cells (P < 0.001). LI of PCNA in the malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B with positive expression of survivin was significantly higher than that with negative expression of survivin (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS(1)The up-regulation expression of survivin in malignant transforma- tion cells of BEAS-2B suggests that survivin may play an important role in the pathway of malignant transformation in BEAS-2B cells induced by Gejiu mineral powder. It may give a proof for revealing the carcinogenesis of lung cancer in Gejiu miner. Survivin may be identified as a novel potential diagnostic and therapeutic target of lung cancer in Gejiu miner. (2)The up-regulation expression of PCNA in malignant transformation cells of BEAS-2B suggests that cell proliferation may play an important role in the pathway of malignant transformation. (3)Survivin may promote cell proliferation mediated by PCNA. Survivn and PCNA may play synergetic roles in the process of malignant transformation in BEAS-2B cells induced by Gejiu mineral powder.