Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinase（MMP-2, MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retinoblastoma (RB) and its relationship with the differentiation and optic nerve infiltration of RB.Methods Forty paraffin specimens of pathological confirmed RB were studied. They were divided into differentiated group (15 cases) and undifferentiated group (25 cases) , optic nerve infiltration group（13 cases） and without optic nerve infiltration group（27 cases）. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemistry, their relationships with the differentiation and optic nerve infiltration were also analyzed.Results The positive rate of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF expression in 40 RB cases were 52.5％，57.5％ and 72.5% respectively．The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in the undifferentiated group were significantly higher than those in the differentiated group (chi;2=9.037, 9.253, 8.095; P＜0.05). The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF in RB with optic nerve infiltration group were significantly higher than those in RB without optic nerve infiltration group (chi;2=11.045,10.243, 8.956；P＜0.05). The expression of MMP-2，MMP-9 had a positive correlation with the expression of VEGF in RB (r=0.126,0.314；P＜0.05). Conclusions MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF expressed in RB tumor tissues. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 has a positive correlation with the expression of VEGF. The levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF expression are related to optic nerve infiltration of RB cells.