To investigate the association between p53 and bcl-2 expressions and morphological and biological features of testicular germ cell tumours, tissue slides from 49 orchiectomy specimens diagnosed as testicular germ cell tumors between 1986-2002 in the Department of Pathology, Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine were retrospectively analysed and classified. The p53 and bcl-2 expression were demonstrated immunohistochemically and the intensity of staining was graded semiquantitatively from (+) to (++++). The p53 expression was seen in 24 of 28 (86%) seminoma cases and 12 of 16 (75%) nonseminomatous germ cell tumours. Bcl-2 expression was seen in 2 of 28 (7%) seminoma and 7 of the 16 (44%) nonseminomatous germ cell tumour cases.

To explain the role of p53 expression detected in 86% of seminomas and 75% of nonseminomatous germ cell tumours and bcl-2 positivity observed in 44% of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors in the development and prognosis of these testicular tumours, large scale studies with long term follow-up periods are needed.