Objective To explore the development track of depression in patients with secondary malignant tumors of lung, and to analyze the influencing factors for different development tracks of depression. Methods A total of 75 patients with secondary malignant tumors of lung were selected as the research subjects. The general data, clinical data of patients were collected. The Hamilton Depression Scale was adopted to evaluate depression status of patients after discharge (at discharge, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge). Group⁃based trajectory model was employed to describe different development tracks of depression. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze relevant factors affecting development track of depression. Results A total of 3 development tracks of depression were eventually determined, containing low⁃risk depression group (45.33%), depressive risk group (30.67%), or high⁃risk depression group (24.00%), respectively. There were statistically significant differences in age, educational level, disease course, primary tumor diameter, pre⁃treatment Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale score, and levels of serum interleukin 6, C⁃reactive protein (CRP), LDL⁃C, HDL⁃C between patients of the three groups (P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with the low⁃risk depression group, patients with secondary malignant tumors of lung who were older, had greater primary tumor diameter, lower pre⁃treatment KPS scale score, and higher serum LDL⁃C level were more likely to be classified into the depressive risk group (P<0.05); however, patients with secondary malignant tumors of lung who had a longer disease course, a lower pre⁃treatment KPS scale score, and higher levels of serum interleukin 6 and CRP were more likely to be classified into the high⁃risk depression group (P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with secondary malignant tumors of lung have different development tracks of depression, which are affected by age, disease course, primary tumor diameter, KPS scale score, and inflammatory factor level and lipid metabolism.