Our observations, therefore, further confirmed the ubiquitous increase of survivin expression in human cancer as previously reported for other tumour types as well (Adida et al, 1998, 2000; Kawasaki et al, 1998; Lu et al, 1998; Monzo et al, 1999; Swana et al, 1999; Sarela et al, 2000; Kato et al, 2001). This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and cancer.