BIRC5 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Concomitantly, a significant upregulation of survivin and downregulation of SMAC protein were noted in the untreated human HCC cell lines (Figure 2b), and pNaKtide treatment influenced the expression of both proteins with attenuation of survivin and heightening of SMAC in a dose-dependent manner (Figure 2b and Figure S2b).