The expression of the MDR1 gene, a multidrug resistance gene, was prospectively determined in 113 primary colorectal carcinoma specimens and correlated with clinical data including survival durations of the patients. MDR1 RNA was detected in 65% of the carcinomas. No expression of the MDR2 gene was seen, MDR1 gene expression was independent of age and sex of the patients, size and histologic grading of the tumour, lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the durations of both relapse-free survival and overall survival were not different between patients with MDR1 RNA positive tumours and those with MDR1 RNA negative tumours.