BIRC5 and cancer: As a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein (IAPs) family, BIRC5 is preferentially expressed in human cancer cells and has multiple functions, including the inhibition of cell apoptosis [1], control of the cell cycle [15,16], promotion of tumor angiogenesis [17,18], resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy [19], acceleration of metastasis and recurrence [20,21], and regulation of cancer cell autophagy [22], all of which favour cancer cell survival and tumor maintenance.