This invention relates to the identification and treatment of aggressive lung cancer tumors in patients. More particularly, it provides a method of identifying patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who have an aggressive node-negative (N0) tumor and a likelihood of a poor overall survival. The method comprises the step of determining if one or more of certain identified proteins are activated in tumor cells obtained from the patient's tumor, wherein the activation of one or more of the proteins indicates that the patient has an aggressive N0 tumor and is likely to have a poor overall-survival. The invention also provides a method for selecting a treatment for an NSCLC patient with an N0 tumor and a method for treating such patients. It further provides a kit for identifying an NSCLC patient with an aggressive N0 tumor and a likelihood of a poor overall survival and a pharmaceutical composition for treating such patients.