PURPOSE:The aim of this study was to test the prognostic influence of p53 nuclear overexpression in colorectal carcinoma.METHODS:We performed an analysis of the prognostic influence of the nuclear overexpression of p53 with immunohistochemistry in 126 cases of colorectal carcinoma operated on in our hospital between 1987 and 1992, with a minimum follow‐up time of 60 months (5 years).RESULTS:Our results show a statistically significant prognostic influence of p53 overexpression on disease‐free survival time, but not on the overall survival time, in univariate analysis, but this influence is lost in multivariate analysis.CONCLUSIONS:Our results confirm recent reports by other authors that failed to show the independent prognostic value of p53 in colorectal carcinoma.