[Expression of survivin gene in thyroid carcinoma and its significance].

Objective: To study the expression of survivin gene in thyroid carcinoma and its significance.

Methods: Samples of thyroid carcinoma were collected from 98 patients during operation. Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of survivin in the carcinoma tissue and the tissue around the carcinoma. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptotic index (AI).

Results: Western blotting and RT-PCR methods showed similar results. The positive expression rates of survivin protein and mRNA in the thyroid carcinoma were both 68.37%; however, survivin was not expressed in all of the tissues around the thyroid carcinoma at both the mRNA and protein levels. The expression rate of survivin was closely related to the pathological typing, lymph node metastasis, and hematogenous metastasis. Apoptotic cells were found in all thyroid carcinoma. The mean AI of the surviving positive group was 0.48 +/- 0.38, significantly lower than that of the survivin negative group (2.98 +/- 0.12, P = 0.0082).

Conclusion: Survivin gene is expressed in most of the thyroid carcinoma. The positive expression rate of survivin is significantly linked to cell proliferating activity, lymph node metastasis, and hematogenous metastasis. Survivin gene will be a new target of gene therapy in thyroid carcinoma.