In a nude mice model of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 6-shogaol (10 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the growth of NCI-H1650 lung cancer cells which was associated with decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis as evidenced by reduced Ki-67-positive cells and an increased number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. This evidence concerns the gene MKI67 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.