The role of survivin expression in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal (glottic) verrucous squamous cell carcinoma

Aims Laryngeal verrucous squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a highly differentiated carcinoma (SCC) whose histological diagnosis has many pitfalls in particular considering small biopsies: multiple glottic biopsies may be necessary to conclude for a malignant or benign lesion (papillary hyperplasia). Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family. Survivin over-expression has been demonstrated in laryngeal SCCs. The aims of the present study have been to evaluate for the first time survivin expression in glottic VSCC and investigate the potential role of survivin expression in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal VSCC. Methods Survivin expression was determined in 11 consecutive cases of glottic VSCC, in 24 cases of glottic papillary hyperplasia, and in 23 cases of SCC. Results Nuclear survivin reaction predominated in laryngeal VSCCs, papillary hyperplasias, and SCCs. Mean survivin expressions in the VSCC basal layer, hyper-proliferative areas of laryngeal papillary hyperplasia, and SCC were 62.7 %, 68.3 %, and 70.0 %, respectively. Mean survivin expression was 15.6 % in VSCC parakeratosis and 1.5 % in papillary hyperplasia parakeratosis (p < 0.001). Conclusions Survivin expression was significantly higher in parakeratosis areas of laryngeal VSCC than in parakeratosis areas of laryngeal papillary hyperplasia. Immunohistochemical determination of survivin expression in parakeratosis areas may be a promising tool to substantiate differential diagnosis between glottic VSCC and papillary hyperplasia.