ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of hypoxia on pro-metastasis induced by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lung adenocarcinoma. MethodsThe human lung cancer cell line H460 was cultured in hypoxic condition and the morphologic changes of the cells were observed under the microscope. The EMT-related markers including E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blot. Transwell migration assay and transwell invasion assay were employed to detect the migratory and invasive activity of cancer cells. ResultsHypoxic induced morphological changes were consistent with the mesenchymal phenotype, such as an elongated fibroblastic morphology, and conversion from a tightly packed epithelial cobblestone pattern to a loosely packed scattered phenotype. Compared with the control group, hypoxic attenuated the quantity of E-cadhenrin, but increased vimentin, which resulted in promotion of migration and invasion of H460. ConclusionHypoxia induces EMT in H460 and enhances the invasive and migratory abilities of lung cancer cells.