It is expressed extensively in common human cancers, such as colorectal carcinoma (Kawasaki et al, 1998), lung cancer (Monzo et al, 1999), and oesophageal carcinoma (Kato et al, 2001), and the increased expression of Survivin appears to be associated with the aggressive nature and/or poor prognosis of the above cancers. This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and cancer.