ObjectiveTo summarize the role of survivin gene in tumor. MethodsThe research status on biological characteristics the role of survivin gene in tumor for gene therapy and clinical application was retrospectively analyzed after related domestic and foreign literatures were reviewed. ResultsSurvivin gene was by far found to be the best powerful apoptosis inhibition gene, which played antiapoptosis role mainly through inhibiting directly the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-7 in the downstream of cascade reaction. Survivin gene promoted tumor cell proliferation and differentiation through speeding up tumor cells transition of G1→S phase and eluding the recognition of tumor cells to the apoptosis in G2/M phase. Survivin gene played important role in the intermediate links of vasiformation through angiogenic factor (VEGF, bFGF, Ang-1, and COX-2). ConclusionSurvivin gene may inhibit the apoptosis, promote the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells and tumor angiogenesis, suggested that survivin gene has potential to act as a novel tumor marker and become an indicator of malignant tumor.