This systematic review of 247 studies found 440 genes, including TP53, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRAF, KRAS, BIRC5, and 238 clinicopathological factors, including patient’s age and gender, tumour stage, histological grade, size, site, subtype, invasion and lymph node status, that are important prognostic factors for cancer survival. This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and cancer.