Objective To study the expression of NF-κB and COX-2 protein in renal cell carcinoma, and to investigate the clinical value of it in the occurrence, progression and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma as well as the prognosis of patients. Methods 48 cases of renal cell carcinoma tissues and 5 cases of normal renal tissues were detected by using immunohistochemical method, and following up the patients who were included in the study. Then we analyzed the relationship between NF-κB and COX-2 protein level and clinic pathological parameters as well as the prognosis of patients. Resalts The expression of NF-κB and COX-2 protein were increasing in renal cell carcinoma, the protein levels were significantly different compared with that in normal renal tissues(P <0.05). There were significantly positive correlation between the expression of NF-κB protein and the clinic stages of renal cell earcinoma(P <0.05), but no correlation between the expression of COX-2 protein and them(P >0.05). There were significantly negative correlation between the expression of COX-2 protein and the pathological grades of renal cell careinoma(P <0.05), but no correlation between the expression of NF-κB protein and them (P>O.05). The survival rate of these patients whose expression of NF-κB protein were positive was significantly lower than those of negative expression of NF-κB protein(P <0.05), and there was opposite result for COX-2, but not significanfly(P >0.05). The expression of NF-κB and COX-2 protein in renal cell carcinoma had no significant correlation (P >0.05). Conclusion There may be relationship between the expression of NF-κB and COX-2 protein and the occurrence, progression of renal cell carcinoma, the expression of NF-κB may also have association with metastasis of renal cell carcinoma as well as the prognosis of patients. Detecting the expression of NF-κB and COX-2 protein may be useful in early diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma as well as prognosis evaluation of patients.