Immunohistochemical study on survivin in sinonasal tumors and its relationship with the immunoexpression of Ki67 and Bcl-2

The immunoexpression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor in various human cancers. Immunohistochemical method was used to examine the expression of survivin, Ki67 and Bcl-2 in 20 cases of sinonasal inverted papillomas (IPs), 12 cases of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNCs) and 19 cases of nasal chronic sinusitis as a control. Nuclear immunostaining for survivin was observed in 14 of 20 (70%) cases of sinonasal IPs and 10 of 12 (83.4%) cases of SNCs. Apart from nuclear, also weak cytoplasmic immunoexpression of survivin was detected in 2 of 20 cases (10%) of sinonasal IP and moderate intense staining in 9 of 12 cases (75%) of SNC. There was no immunostaining for survivin in 19 control cases. The immunoexpression of survivin, Ki67 and Bcl-2 was significantly higher in SNCs than in sinonasal IPs and control group. Moreover, nuclear survivin and Ki67 antigen immunoexpression were significantly higher in sinonasal IPs group as compared to control group. There were statistically significant positive correlations between nuclear (but not cytoplasmic) immunoexpression of survivin and Ki67 antigen, as well as Bcl-2 oncoprotein in both tested tumors. In conclusion, our findings suggest that survivin, Ki67 and Bcl-2 may be involved in sinonasal tumorigenesis.