Role of survivin in retinoblastoma: Diagnosis and prognosis

Abstract

There is growing biomedical interest in survivin as a diagnostic and prognostic factor in human neoplasms. The present work assessed survivin expression in retinoblastoma. Survivin was quantitatively measured in 82 aqueous humor and serum samples from 41 children with retinoblastoma and nonmalignant ophthalmic diseases. After treatment, 12 serum samples from retinoblastoma patients were included. Survivin levels were higher in aqueous humor and serum of retinoblastoma patients than the controls (P < 0.05). In aqueous, it was significantly correlated with the tumor stage and optic nerve affection. The best cutoff values for survivin in aqueous and serum that differentiate between retinoblastoma and nonmalignant ophthalmic diseases were 25.2 pg/mg protein and 12.9 pg/mL, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 90% in serum and 94% and 48% in aqueous, respectively. Serum survivin has decreased significantly after treatment. Measurement of survivin protein might have a great diagnostic and prognostic potential in retinoblastoma.