Nuclear survivin is associated with disease recurrence and poor survival in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma

• Published in: Histopathology 2007-06, Vol.50 (7), p.835-842
• Main Authors: Piras, F, Murtas, D, Minerba, L, Ugalde, J, Floris, C, Maxia, C, Colombari, R, Perra, M T, Sirigu, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - pathology; Child; Dermatology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; immunohistochemistry; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; melanoma; Melanoma - metabolism; Melanoma - mortality; Melanoma - pathology; Melanoma - surgery; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - metabolism; Neoplasm Staging; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; prognosis; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - mortality; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Survival Rate; survivin; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02695.x

Aims:  Survivin is expressed in neoplastic cells and appears to be associated with resistance to therapy and shorter survival in various types of tumours. The aim of the present study was to determine whether nuclear or cytoplasmic expression of survivin is related to disease recurrence and overall survival of patients with Stage I and II melanoma according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Methods and results:  Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded sections of primary cutaneous melanoma from 50 patients. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log rank test. Association of clinical variables (gender, age, tumour location, thickness, Clark level and AJCC stage) with survivin expression was analysed by Fisher's exact test. Patients with nuclear immunoreactivity for survivin had an increased risk of disease recurrence during the first three postoperative years (P