Survivin promoter rs9904341 polymorphism is associated with tumor stage and grade in patients with bladder cancer

Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein and also plays a important role in the development of several malignancies. To investigate the association between survivin promoter –31 G/C (rs9904341) polymorphism and bladder cancer (BC) risk. A total of 200 pathologically confirmed BC cases and 200 unrelated cancer-free controls were recruited in Chiayi Christian Hospital from August 2002 to May 2009. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to determine the –31 G/C polymorphism at survivin promoter region. There was a significant difference in the frequency distribution of survivin promoter –31 G/C polymorphism in BC cases as compared to controls. Among BC cases, individuals with the C/C genotype of survivin promoter have a significantly higher prevalence of invasive (T2-T4) or high-grade (G2-G3) tumors as compared to those who carried the G/G genotype. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the survivin promoter –31 G/C polymorphism was not only associated with clinical stage and pathological grade but also involved in the development of bladder cancer.