We analyzed the expression of bcl-2 and p53 in relation to clinicopathological features and estrogen receptor (ER) status in breast carcinomas from a series of 67 women who were treated surgically. Fifty and 23 cases showed positive immunostaining for bcl-2 and p53 protein, respectively. Thirty-five cases were ER-positive. A positive relationship was observed between bcl-2 and ER (p<0.05). Furthermore, an inverse relationship was observed between bcl-2 and p53 (p<0.01), which suggests that overexpression of p53 may down-regulate bcl-2 expression in breast carcinoma tissue, as has been described in a breast carcinoma cell line.