Univariate analysis revealed that high FABP3 expression (HR, 2.544, 95% CI: 1.794-3.609; P<0.001), high FABP4 expression (HR, 2.634, 95% CI: 1.840-3.769; P<0.001), concurrent high FABP3 and FABP4 expression (HR, 2.032, 95% CI: 1.634-2.526; P<0.001), tumor status (T) (HR, 1.549, 95% CI: 1.206-1.991; P=0.001), lymph node metastasis (N) (HR, 1.526, 95% CI: 1.265-1.842; P<0.001), and TNM stage (HR, 1.576, 95% CI: 1.305-1.902; P<0.001) were all associated with poor five-year survival in NSCLC patients. Here, FABP4 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.