Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of survivin and human telomerasc reverse transcnptase(hTERT)mRNA as well as their relationship with each other in skin tumors.Methods Tissue samples were resected during operation from 17 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 21 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 19 cases of Bowen's disease, 25 cases of seborrheic keratosis and 13 normal human controls.The expression of sun}ivin protein and hTERT mRNA was measured by SP immunohistochemical technique and in situ hybridization, respectively, in above samples.Results The positivity rates of survivin protein and hTERT mRNA were significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease than those in normal controls(all P<0.01),and positively correlated with each other in the three tumors(r=0.79,P<0.001;r=0.79,P<0.001;r=0.57,P=0.011)but not in seborrheic keratosis.In seborreic keratosis, the positivity rate of survivin(P<0.01),rather than hTERT mRNA(P>0.05), was significantly increased compared with that of normal controls.Conclusion The expression of survivin seems to be correlated with that of hTERT mRNA in squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease, which may contribute to the oncogenesis of skin tumors.

Key words: Carcinoma, basal cell, Carcinoma, squamous cell, Bowen’s disease, Keratosis, seborrheic, Survivin, Telomerase reverse transcriptase