Survivin and leukemia

Survivin is a unique member of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis family. Survivin plays a role in the proliferation and survival of normal hematopoietic cells. Survivin expression is aberrantly enhanced in most cancers and hematopoietic malignancies. Survivin is an attractive therapeutic target, and various approaches to targeting survivin have been tested in vitro and in vivo. We review here progress in survivin research. (C) 2004 The Japanese Society of Hematology.