Sporadic breast carcinoma is associated with multiple genetic alterations. The clinical relevance of these alterations, however, needs further clarification. In the present study we analyzed 266 spontaneously arising breast carcinomas for allelic losses in the BRCA1 and TP53 regions on chromosome 17, the BRCA2 region on chromosome 13, the ATM (mutated in ataxia-telangiectasia) region on chromosome 11 and on the chromosomal arms 7q and 16q. In addition the following clinical and pathological parameters were evaluated: age at diagnosis, tumor size, presence or absence of regional and distant metastases, hormone-receptor status, histopathological classification and tumor grading. The analysis of genetic and clinical observations revealed significant associations: absence of expression of the estrogen receptor was linked to a high rate of allelic losses of markers in the BRCA1, TP53 and BRCA2 regions. Expression of the progesterone receptor coincided with allelic loss on the long arm of chromosome 16. High-grade malignant lesions and ductal differentiation were frequently associated with allelic losses in the proximal portion of chromosome 17q. The accumulation of multiple allelic deletions was linked to high-grade malignant tumors, to tumor size, and to loss of expression of the estrogen receptor. Our data point to a relationship between clinically relevant prognostic factors and specific genomic deletions in the BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 region.