Objective To study the effect of vasoactive intesfinal peptide (VIP) on CD80 and CD86 expression in MKN45 tumor-burdened nude mice. Methods Experiment was started when MKN45 transplantation tumors had grown to approximately 30 mm in volume. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups for treatment with VIP (VIP group, n=6, 10 μg · 100 ml · d ) , VIP antagonist ( antagonist group, n - 6, 10 μg · 100 ml · d~ ) and vehicle solution ( controls, n = 6, 100 μl/d ). Both compounds were injected subcutaneously. Tumor volumes and mice weights were measured weekly. Tumor weights were recorded at autopsy on the 28 day. To detect the expression of proteins of CD80 and CD86 in transplantation tumor tissues by immunohistrochemistry. Results The expression of protein of CD80 in transplantation tumor tissue of VIP group was lower than antagonist group (P < 0. 05 ). The expression of protein of CD86 in transplantation tumor tissue of VIP group was lower than control group (P < 0. 05). There was no significance between other two groups. Conclusion VIP inhibited the expressions of CD80 and CD86 in MKN45 transplantation tumor burdened nude mice.