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Aim: WDR5 is a coactivator of transcription factor which promotes the progression of several cancer types, but its function in lung adenocarcinoma (AC) is unknown. Materials & methods: We detected WDR5 expression in lung AC with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Results: WDR5 was significantly overexpressed in ACs compared with normal lung tissues. Moreover, WDR5 was an independent prognostic biomarker of lung AC. With clinical analyzation and in vitro experiments, we proved that SOX9 was a downstream effector of WDR5 in promoting A549 proliferation, and that SOX9 was also an unfavorable prognostic biomarker of lung AC. Conclusion: WDR5 and SOX9 are both prognostic biomarkers predicting poor outcome of lung AC. WDR5 could promote proliferation of lung AC by elevating SOX9 expression.