Objective To detect the difference of periostin expression in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell, and explore its effect on chemoresistance of SCLC patients. Methods The expression of periostin in mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in SCLC H69 and multidrug resistant strain H69AR. The expression of periostin was up-regulated by recombinant plasmid-periostin in H69 cell. The survival rate in the transfected group was different from that of the negative control group and uninterrupted group. Results The expression of periostin mRNA and protein in the sensitive strain H69 was lower than that of the multidrug resistant strain H69AR (P<0.05). The recombinant periostin-plasmid was transfected into H69 cells and at the same concentration of chemotherapeutic drugs (cisplatin, etoposide) the survival rate increased significantly (P<0.05). The positive expression rate of periostin in SCLC tissues was 67.44%, and the sensitivity of the chemotherapy group was lower than that of the drug resistant group (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of periostin in SCLC cell H69 is significantly lower than that of the multidrug resistant strain H69AR and overexpression of periostin increases resistance of the sensitive strain H69 and hence periostin may be involved in SCLC chemoresistance.