As one of the most common malignant tumors, lung cancer is the main cause of cancer death. Early diagnosis is the key to improving the quality of life and prognosis of patients with lung cancer and the detection of tumor markers is important for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. The early appearance and high concentrations of tumor markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are helpful for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. This article reviews the research status of tumor markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in recent years and provides a reference for the early diagnosis of lung cancer.