Expression and antigenicity of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis family member, in bladder cancer: implications for specific immunotherapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the expression of survivin in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and to study whether survivin is a transitional cell carcinoma-specific antigen that could be a target for immunotherapy. Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis family member, has been reported to be expressed in various cancers but not in normal adult tissues.

METHODS:

Immunohistochemical staining for survivin and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I was performed on specimens from 88 patients who underwent transurethral resection and radical cystectomy. To determine whether survivin was recognized as a tumor antigen by the host immune system, we assessed anti-survivin antibodies in the sera of 52 patients and 18 healthy volunteers with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant survivin.

RESULTS:

Survivin and HLA class I were expressed in 77 (87.5%) and 59 (67.0%) of the 88 bladder cancer specimens, respectively, and 56 (63.6%) expressed both survivin and HLA class I. The absorbance values of anti-survivin antibodies in patients with bladder cancer were significantly greater than those in the healthy volunteers. A relationship was found between the level of serum anti-survivin antibodies and the staining intensity of survivin in the specimen.

CONCLUSIONS:

Survivin is expressed in carcinoma of the bladder with high sensitivity. It is suggested that survivin is presented on HLA class I molecules of antigen-presenting cells in 64% of patients with bladder cancer. Therapeutic targeting of survivin in bladder cancer is a future possibility.

• Authors: Hiroshi Kitamura, Toshihiko Torigoe, Ichiya Honma, Hiroko Asanuma, Emiri Nakazawa, Kumiko Shimozawa, Yoshihiko Hirohashi, Eiji Sato, Noriyuki Sato, Taiji Tsukamoto
• Journal: Urology (Urology) Vol. 67 Issue 5 Pg. 955-9 (May 2006) ISSN: 1527-9995 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16635519 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Neoplasm
• BIRC5 protein, human
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins
• Neoplasm Proteins
• Survivin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antigens, Neoplasm (blood, immunology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood, immunology)
• Carcinoma, Transitional Cell (immunology)
• Genes, MHC Class I (immunology)
• Humans
• Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Proteins (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Survivin
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms (immunology)
• Urologic Surgical Procedures