In recent twenty years, the incidence of lung cancer has increased quickly in our country. Till now, the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer have occupied the top of the cancers. Early diagnosis is the most important key to increase the five-year survival rate. This review is attempted to summarize the early hereditary events during the development of lung cancer, mainly including the mutation of p53 gene, the abnormal methylation of the promoter area of p16 gene, the loss of heterozygosity of 3p, 8p, 9p, 5q, etc. The purpose is to seek the biological markers during the development of lung cancer to provide theoretical basis for treatment of lung cancer.