The Role of Survivin in Breast Cancer Prognosis
Author Information
Author(s): Kennedy S M, O'Driscoll L, Purcell R, Fitz-simons N, McDermott E W, Hill A D, O'Higgins N J, Parkinson M, Linehan R, Clynes M
Primary Institution: St Vincent's University Hospital
Hypothesis
Is survivin expression a significant prognostic factor in breast cancer?
Conclusion
High levels of nuclear survivin expression are associated with better disease-free and overall survival in breast cancer patients.
Supporting Evidence
- 60% of tumors expressed survivin, with 139 showing nuclear positivity.
- Nuclear survivin expression was significantly associated with improved relapse-free survival.
- Multivariate analysis indicated nuclear survivin as an independent prognostic factor.
Takeaway
This study found that a protein called survivin, which helps cells survive, can be a good sign for breast cancer patients if it's mostly found in the nucleus of their cancer cells.
Methodology
The study analyzed survivin expression in 293 breast cancer cases using immunohistochemistry and assessed its relationship with patient outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in patient selection and retrospective data collection.
Limitations
The study was retrospective and may not account for all variables affecting survival.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 31 to 90 years, with a mean age of 57.7 years; 92 women were under 50 years old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001 for nuclear survivin expression
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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