Despite the availability of several studies exploring the expression of survivin protein in primary ovarian cancer, no definitive conclusions have been provided about its possible clinical role in this neoplasia (Yoshida et al, 2001; Sui et al, 2002; Takai et al, 2002; Zaffaroni et al, 2002; Cohen et al, 2003). This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and ovarian carcinoma.