BIRC5 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The effects of BIRC5 (Survivin) on the biological behavior of HCC are mainly reflected in the following aspects: (1) Inhibiting the apoptosis of HCC cells: BIRC5 protein binds to a variety of apoptotic proteases, inhibits the catalytic activity of caspase, and thus blocks the apoptosis process (Shin et al., 2001).