This is surprising in view of reports on other common epithelial tumour types showing that survivin expression is associated with a worse outcome, but has analogies with the other main apoptosis inhibitor bcl-2 whose overexpression is associated with a better outcome in breast cancer and a favourable response to therapy (Leek et al, 1994; Duenas-Gonzalez et al, 1997). This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and breast carcinoma.