BIRC5 and cancer: Key target genes include CDK1 and CCND1, which direct cell cycle progression, and synthesis and repair of DNA9; c-MYC, which promotes tumor initiation and progression10; SOX2, which confers cancer stem cell traits11; AXL, BIRC5 and BCL2, which promote cancer cell survival and metastasis12,13; CCN1 (CYR61), which regulates cell proliferation and angiogenesis14; CCN2 (connective tissue growth factor, CTGF), which regulates cell adhesion and migration15; and CDH2 (N-CADHERIN), SNAI1 and SNAI2, (SLUG) which promote metastatic potential and induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition16.