Survivin Interference and SurVaxM as an Adjunct Therapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma, IDH wild-type WHO Grade IV, is a devastating diagnosis in pediatric and adult populations with a poor prognosis and median overall survival of less than two years. Despite the advent of the Stupp protocol and advances in neurosurgical tumor resection techniques, there has been minimal change to both the quantity and quality of life in individuals diagnosed. Provided the extensive research on survivin’s association with glioblastoma tumor microenvironment, this review suggests that priming the individual’s immune systems to the tumor-promoting protein may reduce tumor burden through multiple mechanisms, including the arrest of the G2/M phase, microtubule dysfunction, induction of autophagy, and ultimately activation of apoptosis in glioblastoma cells. SurVaxM, a multiple peptide, survivin-specific vaccine, may assist in tumor cell destruction by eliciting the production of cytotoxic T-cells specific to survivin-expression glioblastoma tumors. Although phase I and II clinical trials suggest relatively safe adverse effects and potential efficacy, additional research is necessary to evaluate further how this vaccine may compare to standard treatment.