| Modification Notes |
Survivin is an anti-apoptotic microtubule-associated protein that is expressed during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and is downregulated during cancer growth. The gene encoding Survivin has an anti-sense strand which encodes the tumor-associated protein EPR1 (effector cell peptidase receptor 1). Expressed on smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells, EPR1 functions as a receptor for the coagulation protein Factor X. Via its interaction with Factor X, EPR1 plays a pivotal role in coagulation cascades, generation of intracellular second messengers, signal transduction, endothelial wall formation and modulation of cytokine gene expression. High levels of EPR1 expression are associated with a variety of cancers, including acute leukemia and colon cancer, suggesting that cancer-induced downregulation of Survivin is correlated with increased expression of EPR1, which may participate in cancer growth and metastasis. |