BIRC5 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Based on above, we predicate that survivin inhibitor may have synergic effects with traditional chemoreagents, such as platiums and taxanes, in HNSCC, which have been proven by previous studies and preclinical researches in various cancers.15, 40, 41, 42 Therefore, we examined the synergistic effects of YM155 combined with docetaxel in HNSCC using xenograft models.