Significance and expression of X chromosome linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, B-cell lymphoma-2 and Survivin in thymoma

Abstract

Objective To explore significance and expression of X chromosome linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) and survivin in thymoma. Methods The expressions of XIAP, bcl-2 and Survivin in 19 cases of thymic hyperplasia, 45 cases of thymoma and 13 cases of thymic adenocarcinoma were detected by immunohistochemical method, and the relationship between the expression of XIAP, bcl-2 and Survivin and age, sex, histological type, clinical stage, ymph node metastasis and myasthenia gravis was analyzed. Results The positive rate of XIAP in normal thymic tissue (2/19), thymoma (26/45) and thymic adenocarcinoma (10/13) increased in turn, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The positive rates of bcl-2 in normal thymic tissue (2/19), thymoma (29/45) and thymic adenocarcinoma (11/13) increased in turn (P<0.05). The positive rates of Survivin in normal thymic tissue (1/19), thymoma (23/45) and thymic adenocarcinoma (11/13) increased in turn (P<0.05). The positive rates of XIAP, bcl-2 and Survivin in thymoma tissues were correlated with histological type, clinical stage, ymph node metastasis, and was not correlated with age, sex and myasthenia gravis. The expressions of XIAP was correlated wih the expression of bcl-2 (r=0.568, P<0.01), the expression of XIAP was correlated with the expression of the expression of Survivin (r=0.671, P<0.01), the expression of bcl-2 was correlated with Survivin in thymoma tissues (r=0.529, P<0.01). Conclusion XIAP, bcl-2 and Survivin were highly expressed in thymoma tissues, which could be used as predictors of the occurrence and malignancy of thymoma. Key words: X chromosome linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein; B-cell lymphoma-2; Survivin; Thymoma