Prostatic adenocarcinoma is emerging as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the male population in the western world. Programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the prostate is activated by hormone ablation and is under the control of several regulating genes including the tumour suppressor gene p53 and the proto-oncogene bcl-2. Bcl-2 belongs to a rapidly expanding family of genes which form two functionally antagonistic groups controlling cell death and survival. Apoptosis regulating genes appear to play an important role in the development and progression of prostatic adenocarcinoma and offer a potential target for future therapeutic strategies.