Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluated the prognostic significance of immunohistochemical reaction for bcl-2 protein and matrix metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP-2) in stage IB invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Material and methods: The study comprised of 140 patients with squamous cell stage IB invasive carcinoma of the cervix treated with radical Wertheim-Meigs hysterectomy. The results of immunohistochemical study was correlated with principal histopathological features: tumor size, grading, vascular space invasion, microscopic infiltration of parametria and pelvic lymph node metastases. Results: Positive immunohistochemical reaction for bcl-2 was observed in 62% of tumors, and for MMP-2 in 44%. Five years survival was significantly higher in patients with positive reaction for bcl-2, and significantly lower for tumors positive for MMP-2 (p=0,002). On the univariant analysis a significant overexpression of MMP-2 was detected in patients with metastatic pelvic nodes. A bcl-2 expression was significantly higher in tumors negative for vascular space invasion and pelvic node metastases. Conclusion: Expression of bcl-2 and MMP-2 are strong prognostic parameters in early stage squamous carcinoma of the cervix suggesting their involvement in tumor progression and metastasis formation.