Objective:To compare perioperative effect of lobectomy by totally video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(tVATS) or traditional open surgery(TOS) on immunologic function and prognostic factors of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients. Methods:Forty NSCLC patients underwent lobectomy by TOS or tVATS were selected,20 patients in each group. The serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of patients before surgery and at the 1st,3rd and 5th day after surgery were determined using the ELISA. At the same time,the clinical data were collected and compared between two groups. Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative serum levels of IL-6,IGFBP-3 and VEGF between two groups. The levels of IL-6 and VEGF at the three postoperative time points in tVATS group were significantly lower than those in TOS group. The levels of IGFBP-3 at the three postoperative time points in tVATS group were significantly higher than those in TOS group. There were no death and no serious complications in two groups. No conversion to thoracotomy occurred in tVATS group. There was no significant difference in operative time,numbers of stations and numbers of lymph node dissected,the chest drainage days and drainage volume after surgery between two groups. In tVATS group,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative pain score,days of getting out of bed and postoperative hospital stay were significantly lower than those in TOS group. Conclusion:Comparing with TOS,the effect of lobectomy with tVATS on the immune suppression and the influence on tumor metastasis and recurrence is much less. It can improve the prognosis of patients,provide favorable conditions for the subsequent treatment.