Objective:To investigate the expression and significance of survivin in human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma.Methods:In twenty-eight samples of human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma without chemotherapy

seventeen human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma with chemotherapy

fifteen human normal breast tissue adjacent to carcinoma

twenty breast benign lesion the expressions of survivin were determined by methods of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.Results:The expressions of survivin mRNA were positively correlated with that of survivin protein in every marker and showed no significant difference.The positive expressions of survivin in human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma without chemotherapy were impressively high and they were significantly different among the ages

TNM stages

pathology grades

lymph node metastases and types of receptors( P <0.01).The expressions of survivin were lower in human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma with chemotherapy than without chemotherapy( P <0.01)

however

the expressions of survivin were not found in normal breast tissue and were very low in breast benign lesion.Conclusion:The expressions of survivin are rather high in human breast infiltrating duct carcinoma and may be helpful in diagnosis of the disease

and determination of the therapeutic effect.