Abstract: Objective To assess the prognostic value of the expression of Ki67, bcl-2 and bax proteins in non-small-cell lung cancer.Methods Non-small-cell lung cancer specimens from 51 patients were immunohistochemically stained with Ki67, bcl-2 and bax antibodies.The expression of the proteins were divided into negative group and positive group.Results The positive expression rate of Ki67 protein was 29.4%.The expression of Ki67 protein was significantly different in Tcategory, and the highest expression of Ki67 protein was in T2 category(P=0.033).Patients with positive expression of Ki67 protein experienced a shorter survival period than those with negative(P=0.013).The positive expression rate of bcl-2 protein was 33.3%, and it was not significantly associated with clinical features.The expression of bcl-2 protein was not associated with survival period.The positive expression rate of bax protein was 35.3%, and the expression of bax protein was significantly different between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma(P=0.040).The expression of bax protein was not associated with survival period.In the multivariate COXregression analysis, the lung cancer staging was the first that entered the COXregression model, the second was Ki67 protein.Conclusion As a biological marker of cell proliferation, and the expression of Ki67 protein is significantly associated with prognosis.The positive staining of Ki67 protein have been linked to poor prognosis, and it may become a valuable biomarker in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Key words: non-small-cell lung cancer, Ki67, bcl-2, bax, prognosis