BIRC5 and cancer: Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that pristimerin markedly decreases NF-κB-dependent gene expression including antiapoptotic (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, survivin, Mcl-1, c-IAPl), invasive (MMP9), cell survival (cyclin D1, c-Myc), angiogenic (VEGF), and proinflammatory (COX-2, iNOS) genes (20, 30, 41, 43, 57, 60, 86), thus affects corresponding cellular events in various cancers.