Objective：To study the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1a（HIF-1a） and matrix metalloproteinases-9（MMP-9） in renal carcinoma tissues and to study their relationship with microvessel density（MVD） and tumor progression. Methods：Immunohis－tochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of HIF-1a and MMP-9 as well as angiogenesis in 60 cases of renal carcinoma tissues and 10 cases of adjacent normal kidney tissues and the relationships between HIF-1a，MMP-9，MVD and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Results：Positive expression rates of HIF-1a in renal carcinoma tissues and adjacent cancer tissues were 58.33% and 0% respectively；positive expression rates of MMP-9 in renal carcinoma tissues and adjacent cancer tissues were 63.33% and 20% respectively；mean values of MVD in renal carcinoma tissues and adjacent cancer tissues were （37.93±11.94）strip/HP and （22.30±7.89）strip/HP respectively. There were statistical significances in expressions of HIF-1a，MMP-9，MVD between renal carcinoma tissues and adjacent cancer tissues（P<0.05） and they were correlated with pathology classification and lymph node metastasis. Conclusions：Increased expressions of HIF-1a，MMP-9，MVD are found in renal carcinoma tissues. HIF-1a and MMP-9 are involved in the angiogenesis of renal carcinoma and are correlated with cancer invasion and metastasis. Combined detection of HIF-1a，MMP-9 and MVD can provide valuable index for judging invasion and metastasis of renal carcinoma.