NCIt definition : Human BIRC5 wild-type allele is located in the vicinity of 17q25 and is approximately
10 kb in length. This allele, which encodes baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein
5, is involved in the prevention of apoptotic cell death.;
NCIt note : BIRC5 is an interloper between cell death and cell proliferation in cancer. BIRC5
associates with the microtubules of the mitotic spindle during mitosis and any disruption
results in the loss of anti-apoptosis activity. BIRC5 inhibits apoptosis in B lymphocyte
precursors deprived of interleukin 3 (IL-3) and may inhibit apoptosis in transformed
cells. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis
(IAP) family expressed during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.;