Objective　To evaluate the effects of VEGF165 on the invasion and metastasis of human gastric cancer cells line BGC-823 under hypoxia. Methods　The BGC-823 cells were divided into 4 groups of transfected with Ad-VEGF165 transiently and induced by hypoxia mimic cobalt chloride (group D), induced by hypoxia mimic cobalt chloride alone (group B), transfected with Ad-VEGF165 alone(group C),and blank control(group A). A transwell cell culture chamber assay in vitro was used to detect changes in migration capacity of BGC-823 cells. The expressions of uPA and MMP-2 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR . Results　The BGC-823 cells were transfected successfully. The mRNA expressions of uPA and MMP-2 in group D were significantly higher than those in groups of A, B and C (P< 0•05).Conclusion　Hypoxia and transfection of VEGF165 into human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 can significantly increase the expression of uPA, and MMP-2 indicating that VEGF165 under hypoxia promotes the invasion and metastasis of the tumor cells.