Chinese Journal of Cancer

Bladder cancer development and pro gression are complicated processes. Advancements in molecular biology have recently prompted interest in the regularity of occurrence of bladder cancer and its development at the gene level. Current studies have shown the importance of the survivin gene in the development and progression of bladder tumors. 1­3 Small RNA interference targeted to the survivin gene significantly decreased the volume of early subcutaneous bladder tumors in nude mice. However, the effect of RNA interference on part tumors was less marked when tumor growth time was increased and malignant grade was higher. 4 After siRNA interference inhibited the expressions of survivin, survivin­ △ Ex3, and survivin­2B in bladder cancer, down­regulating these 3 genes simultaneously, rather than down­regulating one, enhanced cell apoptosis and increased sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. 5 We investigated the expressions of 2 splice variants of survivin in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) and examined the relationship of these 2 splice variants to prognosis and recurrence.