Objective To study the effects of genistein and adriamycin on the proliferation of human ovarian cell A2780 and growth of tumor bearing nude mice.Methods The ovarian cancer cell A2780 suspension were inoculated into nude mice (n=40 )to establish the animal models with ovarian tumor.These model rats were randomly divided into four groups,saline group and different genistein concentrations combined with adriamycin treatment group (high-dose,middle-dose and low-dose group)by intraperitoneal injection once a week.After treatment for four weeks,the ovarian tumors in all rats were peeled off and weighted for the measurement of tumor inhibition rate.The expression of c-myc in ovarian tumors were detected by immunohistochemistry.In vitro,after affected by different genistein concentrations combined with adriamycin,the expression of c-myc in A2780 cell of each group were detected by western blot.The proliferation of A2780 cell were determined by MTT method,and the invasiveness of cell by cell adhesion and transwell assay,the apoptosis rate and cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry. Results The tumor inhibition rates in middle-dose (40.26 ± 4.25)% and high-dose groups[,(44.81 ±5.74)%])were significantly lower than saline group (P<0.05).Immunohistochemistry results showed that c-myc monoclonal antibody in middle-dose and high-dose groups can significantly inhibit the activation of c-myc in ovarian carcinoma tissue.Compared with control group,the expression of c-myc in A2780 cell were significantly decreased,the proliferation and invasiveness of cell were inhibited,cells in G0/G1 phase were significantly increased(P<0.05)and in S phase were(P<0.05)decreased,and the apoptosis were induced by genistein combined with adriamycin in middle-dose and high-dose (P <0.05 ).Conclusion Genistein combined with adriamycin in certain doses could inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of ovarian carcinoma,and induce its apoptosis.The mechanism may be related to the decreased expression of c-myc.