Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of c-MET mRNA in primary lung adenocarcinoma. Methods Clinical data and c-MET mRNA test results about 83 patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery in our hospital from July 2011 to October 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into c-MET mRNA overexpression group and low expression group. Results In 83 patients, the constituent ratio of overexpression group was 36.1% (30/83). The lymph node metastasis rate of overexpression group and low expression group were 46.7% (14/30) and 20.8% (11/53) with significant difference (P＜0.05). The Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ TNM stage of overexpression group and low expression group were 53.3% (16/30), 30.0% (9/30), 16.7% (5/30) and 75.5% (40/53), 17.0% (9/53), 7.5% (4/53), which also showed significant differences (P＜0.05). The 1-, 2-year progression-free survival rate of overexpression group and low expression group were 53.3%, 22.2% and 81.1%, 67.9% with significant difference (P＜0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that c-MET mRNA level (HR=2.298, P=0.019), differentiation (HR=2.632, P=0.003) and TNM stage (HR=3.048, P=0.019) were independent risk factors for prognosis. Conclusion c-MET mRNA overexpression is a negative prognostic factor for patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma.