The Bcl-2 family, which includes both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic members, is the best-characterized protein family involved in the control of apoptotic cell death. In follicular lymphoma, Bcl-2 is a helpful marker for locating malignant cells. Antibodies specific for the Bcl-2 protein can be utilized to distinguish between reactive and malignant follicular proliferation in lymph node biopsies.