Genistein that is a component of soy has been reported to have a protective effect on the carcinogenesis of various tumors and to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of tumor cell in vitro. Angiogenesis is an essential process for the carcinogenesis, growth, invasion and metastasis of cancer and genistein has been suggested to act as natural anti-angiogenic agent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of genistein on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in hamster buccal pouch oral carcinogenesis model induced by 9, 10-dimethyl 1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA). Experimental group that were supplied with 0.1mg/day genistein were sacrificed by time schedules and routinely processed for immunohistochemical examination of VEGF. In genistein treated group, carcinogenesis was retarded with respect to the acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, and epithelial dysplasia. Immunohistochemical study showed that the VEGF protein of genistein group was less expressed than that of the control group. (p<0.05) Thus, it is postulated that genistein has chemopreventive effect on the oral carcinogenesis, and this chemopreventive effect, at least partly, is originated from the anti-angiogenic effect of genistein