Objective To study the relationship between EML4-ALK fusion gene mutations and clinical characteristics and survival in NSCLC. Methods A total of 82 patients’ clinical data were collected, including the patient’s age, sex, smoking history, histological type, tumor metastasis, clinical stage or postoperative staging and EGFR mutations. The survival data were collected by chart study and telephone interview. Results Of all 82 patients, 9 were detected positive for EML4-ALK fusion gene mutations. Between the mutation positive group and the negative group there was no significant difference in gender, tumor histological type, tumor metastasis status, and pathologic stage(P>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in smoking history and EGFR mutations(P<0.05). The median of survival time was 23 months for the gene mutation negative group and 21 months for the gene mutation positive group(P>0.05). Conclusion EML4-ALK fusion gene mutation is more inclined to occur in women, non-smokers, adenocarcinoma, and patients without EGFR gene mutation. The meanwhile of EML4-ALK fusion gene mutation can not yet be used as an independent factor in the assessment of non-small cell lung cancer prognosis.