Abstract: Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of genistein on the invasion potential of human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 in vitro and its mechanisms. Methods The SKOV3 cell line was exposed to various concentration of genistein. The growth activities of cancer cells were detected by trypan blue staining method. Wound-healing assay and Transwell assay were used to evaluate the migration and invasion ability of SKOV3 cell line. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction( RT-PCR) was used to observe the change of MTA1 mRNA expression. Results Genistein could effectively inhibit the in vitro growth of human ovary cancer cell line SKOV3 in time and dose-dependent manners. After 12.5, 25, 50 μmol/L Genistein treatment for 48 h, the growth inhibition rates of cancer cells reached 23.5%, 50.1% and 59.1%, respectively（P<0.05）. The migration capabilities of SKOV3 cells were inhibited significantly after 24 h treatment with Genistein at 12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L（P<0.01）. And the inhibition rates were 20.80％,45.66％ and 74.69％, respectively. After 72 h incubation with 0, 12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L Genistein, the number of cells that passed through the transwell chamber polycarbonate membrane were (127.9±14.5),(109.6±11.8),(64.4±8.3) and (33.5±4.4), respectively（P<0.01）. Compared with control group, MTA1 mRNA expression were down-regulated in Genistein groups （P<0.05）.The relative MTA1 mRNA expression levels were (0.608±0.039),(0.515±0.057),(0.442±0.443) and (0.294±0.035) respectively， after 0, 12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/L Genistein treatment for 72 h. Conclusion Genistein could effectively inhibit the growth and invasion ability of ovarian cancer in dose dependent pattern in vitro and decreased MTA1 expression may play an important role in this process.