OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of bezafibrate (BEZ) and fenofibrate (FEN) on the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma PC-9 cells and the expression of c-myc. METHODS: The effects of BEZ and FEN (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 μmol/L) on the survival rate of PC-9 cells were detected by CCK8 method. PC-9 cells were divided into administration group and control group. Administration group was given low, medium and high concentration (25, 50, 100 μmol/L) of BEZ and FEN; control group was treated with dimethyl sulfoxide for 48 h. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. qRT-PCR was used to detect mRNA relative expression of c-myc in cells. The protein relative expression of c-myc in cells were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS: The survival rates of PC-9 cells were (80.76±3.2)%, (74.35±5.06)%, (62.8±1.23)%, (59.03±1.55)%, (39.8±1.01)% under the action of above concentration of BEZ; and the survival rates of PC-9 cells were (74.46±1.30)%, (61.91±4.77)%, (48.95±2.8)%, (37.05±1.55)%, (32.49±1.36)% under the action of FEN. Compared with control group, G1 phase cell ratio increased significantly in medium and high concentration groups of BEZ and FEN; the apoptotic rate of PC-9 cells was increased significantly in low, medium and high concentration groups of BEZ and FEN; mRNA and protein relative expression of c-myc were decreased significantly, with statistical significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BEZ and FEN can inhibit the proliferation of PC-9 cells, and down-regulate c-myc expression.