T1 or T2 stage (adjusted odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence intervall 1.3–8.7; P=0.01), N0 node stage (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval 1.1–6.4; P=0.03), p53 wild-type gene (adjusted odds ratio, 4 .0; 95% confidence interval 1.7–9.5; P=0.002), and bcl-2 protein expression (adjusted odds ratio, 20; 95% confidence interval 2.3–170; P=0.006), were positively associated with tumour response. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is neoplasm.