The aim of this study was to examine Fas expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and examine its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Fas expression was determined by an immunohistochemical analysis using the labelled streptavidin-biotin method from 220 paraffin specimens of completely resected primary stage I-III NSCLC. 80 (36%) of 220 cases were positive for Fas immunostaining. These 80 cases included 44 adenocarcinomas (33%) and 30 squamous cell carcinomas (40%). 33 stage I (33%) 13 (43%) stage II and 34 (37%) stage III tumours were Fas positive. No statistically significant differences were observed regarding the Fas status with respect to age, sex, histological type, or stage of disease. There was no significant difference in survival between early stage (stages I-II) disease patients with positive Fas expression and those with a negative expression (P = 0.719). However, for patients with completely resected stage III tumours, the patients with positive Fas staining were found to survive for a longer period than those with negative staining (P = 0.026).