The tumor inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) family is a natural inhibitor of several matrix metalloproteinase enzymes which are involved in the process of tumor cell invasion through the extracellular matrix. The aim of this study was to examine TIMP1 RNA expression levels in relation to the clinicopathological features in resected primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Total cellular RNA, obtained from 45 cases of NSCLC and adjacent normal lung tissue, was examined using Northern blot analysis. TIMP1 RNA expression levels were heterogeneous in NSCLC but was significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma compared to the squamous cell carcinoma subtype. Although the TIMP1 RNA levels did not correlate with sex, smoking, tumor, node, or TNM stage, there was a statistically significant survival disadvantage for cases with relatively high TIMP1 RNA expression, suggesting a role for TIMP1 in determining the prognosis of resected NSCLC.