Objective To compare the effects of sevoflurane inhalational anesthesia and propofol intravenous anesthesia on the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in the elderly patients undergoing radical surgery for lung cancer, and provide further reference for the options of clinical anesthesia. Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰor Ⅱ lung cancer patients at the grade of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Ⅰ or Ⅱand aged 60 to 75 years undergoing radical surgery for lung cancer in our hospital were recruited in this study, and randomly divided into 2 groups (n=30):sevoflurane group (group S) and propofol group (group P). After tracheal intubation, 1.7%-3.4% sevoflurane were given to the group S, and maintained its end-tidal of 1-2 MAC until the end of surgery, while, 1.5-3.0 μg /ml target effect-site concentration of propofol was given through controlled infusion in group P until the end. Venous blood samples of 2 ml were harvested at just before induction of anesthesia (T0), 1 h after surgery beginning (T1), 2 h after surgery beginning (T2), 1 h after the end of surgery (T3), and 2 h after the end of surgery (T4) for the levels of VEGF, VCAM-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compared with T0, the plasma levels of VEGF and VCAM-1 were significantly decreased in group S at T1-T4 (P<0.05), and those of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also reduced at T2-T4 (P<0.05). But no such differences were found in group P at T1-T4 (P>0.05). The levels of above indicators were obviously lower in group S than in group P at the period (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with propofol intravenous anesthesia, sevoflurane inhalation can inhibit the expression of VEGF, VCAM-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the elderly patients undergoing radical surgery for lung cancer.