Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, comprises a nodal protein implicated in a multitude of cellular pathways, including apoptosis and mitosis regulation, and is frequently found highly expressed in cancer cells, making it a potential target for anticancer therapies.1, 2 Indeed, a variety of survivin antagonists including YM155 entered clinical evaluation. This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and cancer.