Expression of apoptosis inhibitor Survivin and apoptosis protease Caspase-3 in uterine smooth muscle tumour.

Objective To study the expression of Survivin and Caspase-3 in uterine smooth muscle tumour (USMT) and it' s significance. Methods Expression of Survivin and Caspase-3 protein were determined by immunohistochemistry Two-step method on 30 uterine Cellular Uterine Leiomyoma (CUL), 10 normal uterine smooth muscle (NSM), 10 Ordinary Uterine Leiomyoma (OUL), 15 Leiomysarcoma (LMS). Results Survivin level in normal uterine smooth muscle are very low, and in OUL, CUL, LMS was on increasing trend, the OL group and the LCA group have statistical significant difference(P<0.05). Caspase-3 level in NSM, OUL, CUL, LMS was on decreasing trend. The NSM group and the CL group, the NSM group and the LCA group both have statistical significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Maybe Survivin can inhibit apoptosis and extend cells lives by inhibit the activity of Caspase-3, so it played an important role in the development progress from benign uterine tumour to malignant uterine tumour. The detect of Survivin and Caspase-3 may be useful in the differential diagnosis of uterine smooth muscle tumours. Key words: Uterine neoplasms; Survivin; Caspase-3; Leiomyoma