['To assess the role of selected downstream Bcl-2 family members (Bad, Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) in the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC), as androgen-deprivation therapy is the treatment of choice in advanced prostate cancer, yet patients generally relapse and progress to an AI state within 18-24 months.', 'The patient cohort was established by retrospectively selecting patients with prostate cancer who had an initial response to androgen-deprivation therapy, but subsequently relapsed with AIPC. In all, 58 patients with prostate cancer were included with matched androgen-dependent (AD) and AI prostate tumours available for immunohistochemical analysis; two independent observers using a weighted-histoscore method scored the staining. Changes in Bad, Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression during transition to AIPC were evaluated and then correlated to known clinical variables.', 'High Bad expression in AD tumours was associated with an increased time to biochemical relapse (P = 0.007) and a trend towards improved overall survival (P = 0.053). There were also trends towards a decrease in Bad (P = 0.068) and Bax (P = 0.055) expression with progression to AIPC. There were no significant results for Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL.'] Does bad expression influence time to androgen escape in prostate cancer?