Cancer/germline (CG) antigens represent promising targets for widely applicable mono‐ and multiantigen cancer vaccines for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since little is known about their composite expression in this tumor type, we analyzed 7 CG genes (MAGE‐A3, NY‐ESO‐1, LAGE‐1, BRDT, HOM‐TES‐85, TPX‐1 and LDHC) in 102 human NSCLC specimens. About 81% of NSCLC express at least 1 and half of the specimen at least 2 CG genes. Activation of most of these genes occurs more frequently in squamous cell cancer than in adenocarcinomas. Even though we found all genes but one to be regulated by genomic methylation, not all of them are co‐expressed. In particular, combining CG genes not localized on the X‐chromosome may provide effective treatment for an extended number of patients. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.