Nuclear and cytoplasmic survivin: Molecular mechanism, prognostic, and therapeutic potential

Survivin's proposed dual role as an apoptosis inhibitor and a mitotic effector positioned it in the front line of cancer research. Notably, survivin is detected as a cytoplasmic and nuclear protein in cancer patients, which stimulated numerous studies to investigate and to speculate on the functional and prognostic significance of its dynamic localization. Recent evidence shows that the direct interaction of survivin with the nuclear export receptor Crm1 is critically involved in its intracellular localization and cancer-relevant functions. Here, we review our current understanding of the Crm1/survivin interface and discuss its potential prognostic and therapeutic relevance.