Abstract: Objective:To explore the survival and prognostic factors in patients with stage II and III a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radical surgery. Methods: From January 1999 to March 2001, 231 patients with primary NSCLC (stage II to III a) after radical surgery were retrospectively reviewed. The endpoints were disease-free survival and overall survival. Results: After median 2.13-year-follow-up, the median disease-free survival was 1.49 years and the median overall survival was not reached. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that pathological stage and the number of involved lymph nodes were significant prognostic factors, but not other factors including sex, age, pathology, degree of differentiation, extent of surgery, vasvular malignant embolus, adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Conclusion: Despite radical surgery, the relapse-free survival and overall survival in patients with stage II and III a non-small cell lung cancer were disappointment.