The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of bcl-2 in Dukes' stage B and stage C (AJCC/UICC stage I and III) colorectal adenocarcinomas and to examine its association with clinicopathological features, p53, ki-67 and long term outcome. Paraffin embedded specimens from 61 patients with Dukes' stage B (AJCC/UICC stage I) and 39 patients with Dukes' stage C (AJCC/UICC stage III) colorectal adenocarcinoma who were treated with surgery were assessed. We used immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of bcl-2, p53 and ki-67 with a five-year follow-up. Positive bcl-2 expression was seen in 27 cases (27%). Expression of bcl-2 protein was related to tumor stage (p=0.0117). There was very strong evidence of an association between bcl-2 staining and ki-67 score (p<0.001). There was a trend towards increased survival in patients whose tumors expressed bcl-2 protein (p=0.001). When entered into a multivariate analysis model, which also included p53 and stage, bcl-2 staining emerged as a prognostic indicator variable. Expression of bcl-2 appears to be useful in selecting a group of colorectal cancer patients with a better prognosis.