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Background and objective The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of Claudin-7, Slug and their correltion with clinicopathological characteristics in lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. We also investigated the relationship between the two factors. Methods The expressions of Claudin-7 and Slug in proteins were detected in 101 cases of lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma samples by immunohistochemistry SP method, and Western blot was applied to detect the expressions of Claudin-7 and Slug in 30 specimens of fresh lung cancer and corresponding paracancerous tissues. Results The expression of Claudin-7 was remarkably decreased in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma tissues compared with normal lung tissue, and its expression level was closely correlated with differentiation grade and lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05), whereas the expression of Slug was significantly higher in cancer tissues than that in normal lung tissue. Outside differentiation grade and lymphatic metastasis, the expression of Slug was related to TNM stage (P<0.05). The expression of Claudin-7 was negatively correlated with the expression of Slug in lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (r=-0.566,8). Conclusion The down-regulation of Claudin-7 and overexpression of Slug might be one of pertinent biological markers for malignant transformation and metastasis of lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.