Background and purpose: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Approximately 15% of all histological types consist of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Chemotherapy is one of the major treatment methods. Though the current front-line standard chemotherapy regimen for SCLC is active in most SCLC cases

however

the disease recurs shortly after the first successful treatment with multi-drug resistance phenotype. Our previously study showed that zinc finger protein X-linked (ZFX) was overexpressed in SCLC cells. This study aimed to investigate the expression of ZFX in SCLC tissues

and to clear their possible associations with clinical parameters and provide basis for therapy of SCLC. Methods: A total of 98 surgical specimens of small cell lung cancer were collected. The expression of ZFX was examined by quantificational real-time polymerase chain reaction in 78 specimens taken from patients with complete clinical data. Results: The expression of ZFX was significantly increased in extensive stages than in limited stages. The expression of ZFX was associated with tumor stage

the sensitivity of chemotherapy

and survival times (all P0.05)

no data was found correlated with gender and ages (P0.05). Conclusion: ZFX expression might be associated with the development of SCLC

and may be a potential prognosis predictor.