Objective      To compare the effectiveness and safety of paclitaxel liposome plus cisplatin (LP) with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) in advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with regional lymph node metastasis.       Methods      Seventy-one advanced lung SCC patients were assigned to receive either paclitaxel liposome (175 mg/m

2

) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m

2

) (LP group

n=37) or gemcitabine (1 000 mg/m

2

) pl

us cisplatin (75 mg/m

2

) (GP group

n=34) every 3 weeks. All patients were treated with at least two 21-day courses

and evaluated by chest CT every two courses.       Results      No statistical difference was observed between the LP and GP groups in terms of objective response rate (ORR) of lung primary foci (37.8% vs 32.4%

P

=0.629) and the disease control rate (DCR) of lung primary foci (83.8% vs 76.5%

P

=0.439). LP group had higher ORR of regional metastasis lymph node (45.9% vs 20.6%

P

=0.024) and DCR of regional metastasis lymph node (86.5% vs 64.7%

P

=0.032). Longer progression free survival (PFS) was observed in LP group (7.0 vs 5.0 months

P

=0.014). LP group was associated with significantly less thrombocytopenia

nausea and emesis(

P

0.05).       Conclusion      Paclitaxel liposome plus cisplatin seems to be superior to gemcitabine plus cisplatin for lung SCC treatment with less toxicity

better tolerance and longer PFS.