The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of expression of a range of genes involved in apoptosis on outcome in bladder cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine expression of BCL2, BAX, P53, CD40 and CD40L in archival tissues of patients included in various treatment trials for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. Data were collected on 94 patients who first presented with either invasive or superficial bladder cancer. Median follow-up for alive patients was 83 months (m)(range 12–195 m). Median survival was 80 m (95% CI= 56–128 m). Median survivals for the various markers were as follows: BAX-positive patients 110 m vs BAX-negative patients18 m (P= 0.0002); CD40L-positive patients 95 m vs CD40L-negative patients 45 m (P= 0.04); BCL2-positive patients 44 m and BCL2-negative patients 74 m,(P= 0.64); CD40-positive patients 110 m and CD40 negative patients 45 m (P= 0.12); and P53 positive patients 80 m and P53 negative patients 45 m (P= 0.58). In conclusion, it was seen that overexpressions of BAX and CD40L are prognostic of better survival in TCC of the bladder. Our results also raise the possibility of the future development of CD40-and CD40 ligand-based immunotherapy for bladder cancer. This study links proapoptotic and antiapoptotic markers to overall survival.