Abstract: Objective : To investigate the expression and role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the carcinogenesis and progression of cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Methods : Immunohistochemistry (EliVision method) was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in cervical tissue samples including normal squamous epithelium (n =20), dysplastic squamous epithelial hyperplasia (n =28), squamous cell carcinoma in situ (n =12), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (n = 33). The samples were obtained through total or radical hysterectomy. Results : The positive expression rate of HIF-1α and VEGF increased with malignancy. The positive expression rate of HIF-1α was 25.00% in normal squamous epithelium, 42.96% in dysplastic squamous epithelial hyperplasia, 58.33% in squamous cell carcinoma in situ and 57.61% in invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The HIF-1α expression rate in invasive squamous cell carcinomas was significantly higher than that in normal squamous epithelia (P <0.05). The VEGF expression rate was 25.00% in normal squamous epithelium, 50.00% in dysplastic squamous epithelial hyperplasia, 66.77% in squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and 63.67% in invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The VEGF expression rate in squamous cell carcinoma in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal squamous epithelium (P <0.05). Both HIF-1α and VEGF expression rates in cases with lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than in those without lymph node metastasis (P <0.05). In invasive squamous cell carcinoma, the HIF-lα expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression (r =0.45, P <0.05). Conclusion : Overexpression of HIF-1α and VEGF plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of cervical squamous cell carcinoma. HIF-1α and VEGF can be used as indices for cervical carcinoma invasion and metastasis.