Abstract: To discuss the relationship between the promoter methylation patterns of RKIP and PTEN in lung cancer and their clinicopathologic features. Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction PCR ( MSP-PCR ) was employed to detect the promoter methylation of RKIP and PTEN in lung cancer tissues and as well as their paraneoplastic tissues in 83 lung cancer patients. Results: Promoter methylation of RKIP was found in 45.8% ( 38/83 ) of the total lung cancer tissue samples and 13.3% ( 11/83 ) of the paraneoplastic lung tissue samples. The differences were significant between the two groups ( P < 0.05 ). There was promoter methylation of PTEN in 51.8% ( 43/83 ) of the lung cancer tissue samples and 15.7% ( 13/83 ) of the paraneoplastic lung tissue samples. Of the 43 cases with lymph node metastasis, RKIP promoter methylation was observed in 27, and PTEN promoter methylation was found in 30. The methylation rate in the promoter region was significantly higher in cases with nodal metastasis than in cases  without nodal metastasis ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion: Promoter methylation patterns of RKIP and PTEN in lung cancer may be considered as important causes of the carcinogenesis, progression, and metastasis of lung cancer.