Abstract: Objective To compare the therapeutic effects and side effects of gemcitabine and paclitaxel combined with fractionation-dose cisplatin in the treatment of untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)． Methods Eighty-one patients with untreated advanced NSCLC were randomized into two groups: gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) and paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP). Patients in GP received regimen: GEM 1000 mg／m², d₁, d₈, DDP 30 mg／m², d₂～d₄, repeated every 28 days. Patients in TP receive regimen: PTX 175mg/ m², d1, DDP 30 mg／m², d₂～d₄, repeated every 28 days. Results Overall response rate was 45.0% (18/40) in GP and 43.2% (16/37) in TP. Response Rates were not significantly different in two groups (χ²=0.527, P=0.957). Median survival time and 1-year survival rate in GP were 11 months and 37.7%, respectively, while 11 months and 31.7% in TP. Overall survival were not significantly different in two groups (χ²=0.140，P=0.708). Side effects were different in two groups: thrombopenia was significantly higher in GP than that in TP, however peripheral neuritis, nausea and vomiting, and myosagia were significantly higher in TP than that in GP. Conclusion GP and TP had similar therapeutic efficacy, however, side effects in GP were much slighter than that in TP. We presumed GP could be used as first-line chemotherapy regimen in untreated advanced NSCLC．