ObjectiveTo detect mRNA and protein expression of CUG-binding protein 1(CUGBP1)in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and assess the prognostic significance of CUGBP1. MethodsFifty-seven NSCLC patients who received surgical resection at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between July 2009 and April 2011 were enrolled in this study. There were 32 male and 25 female patients with their age of 43-74 (60.6±8.9) years. The expressions of CUGBP1 mRNA and protein in tumor and adjacent normal tissues were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. All the patients were followed up every 2 months after discharge via the phone. Time to progression(TTP) was used to evaluate the relationship between CUGBP1 mRNA, clinicopathological variables and prognosis. The percentage of CUGBP1 mRNA and CUGBP1 expression was correlated with clinical characteristics using χ2 test. The prognostic significance of CUGBP1 mRNA was assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox regression analysis. ResultsThe expressions of CUGBP1 mRNA and CUGBP1 were over-expressed in cancer tissue, and were significantly correlated with TNM-stage and differentiation. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that CUGBP1 mRNA expression(P=0.0074, HR=3.701, 95% CI 1.420-9.648), TNM-stage (P < 0.000 1, HR=4.043, 95% CI 2.098-7.794) and age (P=0.0018, HR=3.207, 95% CI 1.544-6.664) were independent predictors of postsurgical survival in NSCLC patients. ConclusionsCUGBP1 mRNA and CUGBP1 are over-expressed in NSCLC, and over-expression of CUGBP1 mRNA independently predicts a shorter postsurgical survival in NSCLC patients.