Objective:To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) and the Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) in human non-small cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC) and their correlation. Methods:The expression of BNIP3 and HIF-1α in 45 tumor samples,45 para-cancer tissues and 14 control normal lung tissues were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses (RT-PCR) and SP immunohistochemical method. Multivariable analysis was used to analyze the correlation of the HIF-1α and BNIP3 expression on histological types,differentiation,TNM clinical staging,lymphatic metastasis,age and cigarette smoking. Results:Compared with the control group,the mRNA levels of HIF-1α and BNIP3 in lung carcinoma tissues were much higher. There was a significant difference between tumors and the control(P < 0.01). BNIP3 mRNA levels were positively correlated with HIF-1α levels(r=0.68,P < 0.01). In lung carcinoma,the positive expression rates of HIF-1α and BNIP3 proteins were 53.3% and 66.7% respectively,which were higher than those in para-cancer tissues and normal lung tissues(P < 0.01). The positive correlation between HIF-1α and BNIP3 expression was highly significant(rs=0.38,P < 0.01). The expression of HIF-1α was correlated with histological types and TNM clinical staging(P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between BNIP3 expression and patients’ clinicopathologic parameters. Conclusion:The high expression levels of HIF-1α and BNIP3 were closely related in non-small cell lung carcinomas,both of them played important roles in the carcinogenesis and development of lung carcinoma.