Cancer therapeutics using survivin BIRC5 as a target: what can we do after over two decades of study?

Abstract

Survivin (also named BIRC5) is a well-known cancer therapeutic target. Since its discovery more than two decades ago, the use of survivin as a target for cancer therapeutics has remained a central goal of survivin studies in the cancer field. Many studies have provided intriguing insight into survivin's functional role in cancers, thus providing promise for survivin as a cancer therapeutic target. Despite this, moving survivin-targeting agents into and through the clinic remains a challenge. In order to address this challenge, we may need to rethink current strategies in order to develop a new mindset for targeting survivin. In this Review, we will first summarize the current survivin mechanistic studies, and then review the status of survivin cancer therapeutics, which is classified into five categories: (i) survivin-partner protein interaction inhibitors, (ii) survivin homodimerization inhibitors, (iii) survivin gene transcription inhibitors, (iv) survivin mRNA inhibitors and (v) survivin immunotherapy. We will then provide our opinions on cancer therapeutics using survivin as a target, with the goal of stimulating discussion that might facilitate translational research for discovering improved strategies and/or more effective anticancer agents that target survivin for cancer therapy.

An immune‐related prognostic signature for predicting breast cancer recurrence

“…31 In the past 20 years, BIRC5-related treatment approaches include inhibitors for BIRC5-partner proteins, homodimerization inhibitors, gene transcription inhibitors, mRNA inhibitors, and immunotherapy. 32 In particular, BIRC5 immunotherapy used in combination with standard therapies or with targeted precision drugs have shown great anti-cancer potential. [33][34][35] Recent studies have also shown that S100 Calcium Binding Protein B (S100B) is upregulated in BC, melanoma, ovarian cancer, and colon adenocarcinoma.…”

Uncovering the Mechanism of Shenlian Capsules in the Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by System Pharmacology

“…Some studies have shown that the expression of BIRC5 in lung cancer tissue is signi cantly higher than that of tissues adjacent to lung cancer [55], which is consistent with our research. BIRC5 has the functions of inhibiting apoptosis, promoting cell transformation, participating in cell mitosis, angiogenesis and drug resistance [56].…”

Evaluation of Immune-Biomarker Expression in High Grade Soft Tissue Sarcoma : Emphasis of importance of HLA-DQA1 expression as a prognostic marker

“…BIRC5, also called survivin, is a well-known cancer therapeutic target. BIRC5 covers a numerous mechanisms of action in immune responses as well as in molecular cancer diagnostics and therapeutics [23]. Survivin peptide immunogen-reactive antibodies are considered to exert an additional advantage for survivin immunotherapy.…”