Immunohistochemical analysis of 143 hyperplastic polyps, 171 adenomas with low dysplasia, 42 adenomas with high dysplasia, and 60 carcinomas indicated that the immunoreactivity of survivin (but not bcl-2) significantly increases in the transition from adenoma with low dysplasia to high dysplasia/carcinoma. This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and carcinoma.