To study the treatment of experimental metastatic lung carcinoma by intratracheal injection of IL-18 gene recombinant adenovirus. Methods: (1)The mouse IL-18 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the concentration of IL-18 and associated cytokines in lung lavages and blood were determined by ELISA at different time points after intratracheal injection of IL-18 recombinant adenovirus. (2)The lung metastasis nodes, mouse survival periods and survival rates were evaluated. NK activity and CTL activity were determined by 51Cr 4 h release method. Results: (1)IL-18 mRNA was detectable in lung tissue 6 h after intratracheal use of IL-18 recombinant adenovirus, and the concentration of IL-18 in lung lavage was higher than that in pelipheral blood. Neither IL-18 mRNA nor IL-18 was detectable in control group. (2) Intratracheal use of IL-18 recombinant adenovirus resulted in increased CTL and NK activity, longer survival time and higher survival rates compared with the control group, showing significant therapeutic effect on experimental lung metastasis. Conclusion: Intratracheal use of adenovirus vector containing IL-18 gene has therapeutic effect on the lung metastasis, denoting that gene therapy of lung diseases could be applied through airway directly with recombinant adenovirus.