Targeting abundant survivin expression in liposarcoma: subtype dependent therapy responses to YM155 treatment

PURPOSE: Liposarcoma (LPS) represent the largest group of malignant soft tissue tumours comprising a heterogeneous group of subtypes in which the degrees of chemoresistance and radiosensitivity strongly vary. Consequently, it is of utmost interest to establish novel therapeutic regimens based on molecular targets. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of survivin was performed in tissue microarrays comprising 49 primary LPS specimens. LPS cell lines were treated with survivin antagonist YM155 and doxorubicin or etoposide alone as well as in combination. Changes in cell viability were investigated and the synergistic effect of a combined therapy analysed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry revealed an abundant expression of survivin in LPS that significantly concurred with less-differentiated tumour subtypes and grading. In vitro, we demonstrated the impact of the survivin inhibitor YM155 on dedifferentiated LPS (DDLPS) and, even more imposing, pleomorphic LPS (PLS) tumour cell viability with a strong induction of apoptosis. A combined treatment of doxorubicin or etoposide with YM155 augmented the cytotoxic effects on DDLPS and PLS cells. CONCLUSION: These findings support the significant role of survivin in the oncogenesis and progression of LPS subtypes providing a rationale to target survivin in eligible in-vivo models and to pioneer clinical applications of survivin-specific substances unfolding their therapeutic potential in LPS patients prospectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-021-03871-5.