A total of 165 patients, all of whom had died of breast cancer with duration of survival 12–127 months, median 38 months, were examined using immunohistochemistry for proliferation, apoptosis, p53, phosphorylated p53, p21, checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2), bcl-2, bax, survivin and XIAP. This evidence concerns the gene BCL2 and breast carcinoma.