Abstract: Objective To explore the expression of MMP13 and its relationship with invasion,metastasis and prognosis of lung squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Methods The expression of MMP13 was detected by immunohistochemistry in tissues of 48 specimens of lung squamous carcinoma and 42 specimens of lung adenocarcinoma. Results The positive expression rate of MMP13 protein in lung squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 68.8%（33/42）and 64.3%（27/42）（P=0.654）.The expression rate of MMP13 protein was associated with T stages,lymphatic metastasis and TNM stages (P<0.05) of lung cancer,not with sex,age,smoking,histological classification and differentiation and so on(P>0.05).Kaplan-Meier univariate analysis revealed MMP13 protein expression（P=0.001），TNM stages（P<0.001）,lymphatic metastasis（P<0.001）and T stages（P=0.018） having statistical significance for survival time.Cox model analysis revealed MMP13 expression（P=0.017） and lymphatic metastasis（P=0.001） as dangerous factors of independent prognosis in lung cancer. Conclusion MMP13 plays an important role in invasion and metastasis of lung cancer,and it may be used as an important prognostic indicator of lung cancer.