Method for predicting tumor recurrence

A diagnostic method for predicting the recurrence of a tumor or cancer in a human comprising:

• (a) contacting RNA from a human physiological sample suspected of being tumorigenic or cancerous with a Survivin-specific oligonucleotide comprising a first label, and a pro-apoptosis factor (PAF)-specific oligonucleotide comprising a second label under conditions effective to hybridize the RNA to the oligonucleotides so as to yield a first population of RNA labeled with the Survivin-specific oligonucleotide and a second population of RNA labeled with the PAF-specific oligonucleotide;
• (b) quantifying the first and second populations of labeled RNA to determine an amount of Survivin RNA and an amount of PAF RNA present in the sample;
• and
• (c) calculating the ratio of the amount of Survivin RNA and the amount of PAF RNA;
• wherein a Survivin:PAF ratio of more than about 1.5 is predictive that the tumor will recur.