OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of Survivin in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and laryngeal papilloma in adults and its significance in carcinogenesis and development of the LSCC. METHOD: The expressions of Survivin protein were detected by immunohistochemistry technique in 46 cases of LSCC, 24 cases of adjacent nontumorous laryngeal epithelium, 20 cases of laryngeal papilloma and 16 cases of normal laryngeal epithelium. RESULT: The positive rates of Survivin protein expression in laryngeal carcinoma, adjacent nontumorous laryngeal epithelium and laryngeal papilloma were 71.74% (33/46), 33.33% (8/24)and 40.00% (8/20) respectively. There was no expression in normal laryngeal epithelium. The positive rate of Survivin protein expression in laryngeal carcinoma was significantly higher than that in the adjacent nontumorous laryngeal epithelium, laryngeal papilloma and normal laryngeal epithelium. But there was no statistically significant correlations between Survivin protein expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of tumor site, T-stage, pathological grading, UICC-stage and lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05). Expression of Survivin protein in 3 cases in laryngeal papilloma group which turned into laryngeal carcinoma later were all positive. CONCLUSION There was overexpression of Survivin in the laryngeal carcinoma. The expression of Survivin might play an important role in the carcinogenesis of LSCC and might be an early event during laryngeal carcinogenesis. It could be a diagnostic marker for evaluating the malignant potential of laryngeal papilloma in adults.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Papilloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survivin ; Young Adult