In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of the tumour marker, tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), in 203 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and related this to several other known prognostic factors. TPS was significantly correlated with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase, and the median level of TPS in patients with stage 4 disease was significantly higher as compared to stage 3A and 3B disease. In the univariate analysis, performance status, stage of disease, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, a histology of undifferentiated large cell carcinoma and TPS all had a statistically significant association with survival. Multivariate analysis showed that stage of disease, performance status, histology and TPS were the most important prognostic factors. TPS has prognostic significance for survival in patients with advanced NSCLC, independent from performance status and stage of disease.