Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of oxaliplatin and teniposide on prolif-eration and apoptosis of gastric cancer cell line BGC-823. Methods: MTT assay was carried to examine the inhibition rate of oxaliplatin and teniposide on gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 with various concentrations separately and associatively. The apoptosis rate of BGC-823 cells under the treatment of oxaliplatin or/and teniposide was examined by flow cytometry. The expression level of livin, an apoptosis-associated protein, was explored by western blot. Results: Oxaliplatin or teniposide could remarkably inhibit the BGC-823 gastric cancer cell growth with a dose-response manner, separately and associatively .The inhibition rate of oxaliplatin combined with teniposide on BGC-823 cells was higher than that of single oxaliplatin or single teniposide (P < 0.05), with 0.46 as combination index (CI) value. The apoptosis rates of cells treated by oxaliplatin for 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were 6.13%, 13.86% and 21.48%, respectively, while which of teniposide were 4.60%, 10.72%, 17.07%. But when the two medicines were carried associatively, the apoptosis rates for 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were 11.73%, 24.14% and 44.75%, respectively. Western blot showed that the expression level of livin was more down-regulated when cells were treated by oxaliplatin + teniposide than by oxaliplatin singly. Conclusion: The combination of oxaliplatin and teniposide can exert a synergistic effect on gastric cancer cell BGC-823.