Abstract: Objective 　To study the expression of VEGF in human esophageal cancer tissue and analysis the relationship between the expression of VEGF and the biological characteristics of esophageal cancer. Methods 　The microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of VEGF in human esophageal cancer tissue were studied by immunohistochemistry staining. The expression of VEGF in human esophageal cancer tissue and in human esophageal cancer cells ( TE-1 、TE-10) were determined by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results 　The expression rate of VEGF in esophageal cancer tissues was 70. 9 %. The expression level of VEGF in esophageal cancer tissue was higher than that in normal esophageal tissue. The expression level of VEGF also significantly correlated to pathologic grades、lymph node metastasis and invading depth of the tumors. MVD was also significantly associated with pathologic grades、lymph node metastasis of tumors. There were positive relationship between MVD and VEGF. The expressions of VEGF including VEGF₁₈₉ 、VEGF₁₆₅ 、VEGF₁₂₁ were detected in human esophageal cancer tissues. Conclusion 　The development of esophageal cancer is related to higher expression of VEGF. There were relationship between over-expression of VEGF in esophageal cancer and grade, metastasis, MVD of esophageal cancer.