Identified Survivin Expression Profile as a Biomarker in Breast Cancer, A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Defects in cell signaling are common and play a crucial role in the development and progression of breast cancer. These defects can include alterations in cell-cell communication, uncontrolled cell growth, and resistance to programmed cell death (apoptosis). Survivin is a protein that plays a role in the regulation of apoptosis and has been observed to be overexpressed in breast cancer. To evaluate the potential of Survivin gene expression as a biomarker in the breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: By using Real-Time PCR, expression of Survivin, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9 and TNF-α were detected in 84 female patients after surgery,42 malignant and 42 benign samples. About one gram from inside tumor and another one gram beside the tumor was taken to isolate mRNA by RT-PCR which detects the expression of Survivin, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9 and TNF-α inside the tumor tissue and beside them. Besides tumor tissue, 84 blood samples were collected from patients to detect the expression of Survivin and other caspases, in addition to that, 50 blood samples were collected from women without evidence of breast cancer as a control group. All the samples were collected from patients admitted to Al-Basrah Teaching Hospital during the period between March 2022 and October 2024.

Results: Expression of Survivin showed a higher level in malignant tissue compared with benign samples. Inside malignant tissue showed high expression in Survivin compared to tissue beside the malignant site. Caspases-3 and Caspase-9 which are related to the apoptosis process, showed decreased expression inside malignant samples where Survivin increased. Caspase-8 also showed slightly increased and TNF-α was elevated inside malignant tissue compared with tissue beside the malignant site. Expression of Survivin in blood samples of patient with malignant tumor showed increased level compared to blood sample of benign tumor and with control blood samples.

Conclusions: The study showed that Survivin expression in malignant tissue was elevated compared to benign tumours. The variation in Survivin was evident also in blood samples with declining gradient from malignant, to benign and normal controls.