We investigated the relationship between the expression of apoptosis related prteins and the clinical outcome in maxillary squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Twenty-seven cases of maxillary SCC were examined for the expression of p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and apoptosis, by using immunohistochemical staining and TUNEL method befor and after combined treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherap and operation. The expression of Bax was correlated with recurrence, death and metastasis after treatment. Furthermore, the positive expression of Bax before treatment was correlated with the apoptosis index (p=0.021). These results suggest that the positive expression of Bax is an important prognostic factor in maxillary SCC.