Fig. 3

Schematic representation of different techniques to target survivin for therapeutic purposes. a Antisense technology, such as antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA and shRNA target survivin mRNA to inhibit translation. b Ribozyme is also an advanced antisense method to target mRNA. The specificity of ribozyme determined by the paired regions flanking the cleavage site. c Dimerization and phosphorylation on Thr34 residue is essential for survivin activation and Hsp90 provide stability to survivin dimer. Small molecule antagonists for survivin activation, such as CDK and Hsp90 inhibitors, able to inhibit survivin phosphorylation or its interaction with Hsp90, consequently inhibit survivin functions. d In dominant negative mutants, an essential amino acid of the survivin is replaced by another amino acid that leads to the loss of function. For example, Thr34Ala mutant inhibit survivin activation through abolishing phosphorylation of Thr34 residue, and Cys84Ala mutant inhibit survivin dimerization. e Survivin-directed immunotherapy approaches. Peptides-derived from survivin can induce CTL activity against tumor cells