Transcription factor Y-box-binding protein 1 (YB-1), which binds to the inverted CCAAT box, is not only involved in the transcription of various genes, but also in cell proliferation and DNA repair. The aim of this study was to detect YB-1 and p53 expression and their relationship to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and to evaluate the relationship between their expression levels and the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Positive expressions of YB-1, p53 and PCNA were detected in NSCLC cells in 43 (45.7%), 33 (35.0%) and 45 (47.9%) out of 94 patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed between YB-1 expression and the patients' gender, age at surgery, pathological stage, pathological T status, pathological N status, or pathological M status. The mean PCNA-labelling index (LI) for cells was 40.7+/-2.6. Also, a significant correlation between YB-1 and PCNA-LI was found (p<0.01), but none was found between p53 expression and PCNA. The positive expression of YB-1 was associated with squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma, compared with adenocarcinomas (p<0.01), and higher levels of PCNA-LI were associated with large cell carcinoma compared with adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.01). These results suggest that YB-1 expression is correlated with PCNA expression in NSCLC. In addition, the DNA repair pathway and tumor proliferation mediated by YB-1 linking to PCNA may be responsible for controlling the growth of NSCLC.