We conducted a study to determine whether the expression levels of genes in tumors were correlated with the survival of patients after complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The expression levels of 1176 genes in resected tumor specimens from 28 patients were analyzed using the Atlastrade mark Human Cancer 1.2 Array. The pathological stages of the resected tumors were I, II and III in 14, 5 and 9 patients, respectively. We compared the differences of gene expression between patients who survived (n=12) and those who died (n=16). The expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 8, phosphoinositide-3-kinase, interferon regulatory factor 3 and tubulin were significantly higher in the tumors of surviving patients with stage I lung cancer (p<0.01). The expression levels of 12 genes, including the interferon- stimulated genes, were significantly higher in surviving patients with stage II or III lung cancer (p<0.01). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis revealed that 4 and 12 genes in stage I and stage II/III cancers, respectively, were independent prognostic factors (p<0.01). In conclusion, these survival-related genes are considered to be possible targets of adjuvant therapy after surgical resection of NSCLC.