Background: DCIS is a malignant proliferation of mammary ductal epithelial cells without invasion beyond the basementmembrane. Bcl-2, bax, bel-xiand p53areimplicatedin regulation of apoptosis. This study aimed to clarify the role of these gene products in DCIC. Patients and methods:  Immunohistochemical staining of 13 cases of DCIS with bcl-2, bax, bel-xi and p53 was performed. Results:  DCIS was graded into;  42% of low, 16% of intermediate,  and 42% of high grade cases. P53 was negative in all low grades,  positive in 66.7% intermediate grade, and in all high grade  DCIS. Bcl-2  was positive in all DCIS with variable intensities.  Bax was positive in 80% of low grade,  100% of intermediate grade,  and in 100% of high grade DCIS. Bel-xi was positive in  80% of low grade,  and in  all intermediate and high grade  DCIS.  P53 was inversely correlated with bcl-2 expression in DCIS (p < 0.02). Insignificant positive correlation was present between p53 and bax expression and between p53 and bel-xi expression in DCIS. An inverse correlation was present between bcl-2 and bel-xi expression and between bcl-2 and bax expression in DCIS (p < 0.01  for each). Positive correlation was present between bax and bel-xi expression (p < O.000) in DCIS. Conclusions: p53 mutation is an early event in the evolution of breast cancer and its expression correlates  with high grade lesions.  Strong  positive  correlation between  bax  and bel-xi, but the prognostic value of bcl-2 protein family in DCIC is still in need to more studies to be clarified. Key words: Ductal carcinoma in situ, bcl-2 bax, bel-xi and p53. Abbreviations:  Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), carcinoma in situ (CIS), invasive carcinoma (IC), inhibitor  of apoptosis proteins (lAP), Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), catalogue number (Cat#), phosphate buffered solution (PBS), staining intensity (Sf), immunohistochemical scores (IHCS), percentage of positive cells (PP), atypical ductal hyperplasia  (ADH).