There were significantly higher serum levels of survivn among patients with lung cancer (681.93 ± 274.79 pg/ml) when compared with patients with benign lung diseases and controls (423.34 ± 239.73 and 269.22 ± 8.01 pg/ml, respectively; P<0.001), and significantly higher serum survivin levels among patients with benign lung diseases compared with among healthy controls (P=0.006). The gene discussed is BIRC5; the disease is lung carcinoma.