We aimed to investigate the effects of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) on tumour growth and angiogenesis in human tongue cancer. The pcDNA3.1(-)B/Ang-2 recombined expression plasmid was constructed by subcloning Ang-2 into a pcDNA3.1(-)B vector, and introduced into the Tca8113 cell line by liposome transfection. Then 3x10(6) cells were injected subcutaneously to the back of nude mice. The duration of forming and growing tumours was measured carefully. Formation of vessels was also assessed in harvested tumour tissue. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the increase of Ang-2 expression in the transfected tumours. Overexpression of Ang-2 in Tca8113 cells prolonged the detectable formation of tumours and inhibited their growth. Tumours derived from Ang-2-transfected cells contained aberrant angiogenic vessels with few associated smooth muscle cells. Transgenic Ang-2 resulted in aberrant tumour angiogenesis in Tca8113 transplanted tumours, and inhibited the growth of Tca8113 tumours.