We have investigated the role of the p53, bak and β-catenin genes in cervical carcinoma and assessed their predictive potential in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy. We examined 46 locally advanced cervical carcinoma (33 stage II cases and 13 stage III cases) punch biopsies taken prior to the initiation of radiotherapy, using a PCR-based assay followed by SSCP and direct sequencing. The p53 gene was mutated in 19% (9/46) of the cases, bak mutations were found in 12% (5/42) of the cases, whereas β-catenin was altered in 17% (8/46) of the cases. There was a significant difference in stages II and III between the wild type and mutant p53 patients (p<0.01). The results of this study suggest that the bak and β-catenin genes may play a role in the progression of cervical carcinoma. At present, we have found no significant difference in survival between the wild type and mutant patients for any of the genes analyzed.