Objective:To explore the effects of long non-coding RNA SATB2-AS1 in the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells as an endogenous competitive RNA to regulate miR-373-5p/BTG3 axis.Methods:qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of LncRNA SATB2-AS1, miR-373-5p and BTG3 in paracancerous tissue and cancerous tissue of patients with CC. The interaction between LncRNA SATB2/miR-373-5p/BTG3 was then predicted and verified. The expression of SATB2-AS1 and miR-373-5p in cells was intervened, subsequently the CC cells were divided into different groups. The proliferation activity of cells in each group was detected by MTT, and the apoptosis of cells in each group was detected by flow cytometry.Results:qRT-PCR showed that the expression of SATB2-AS1 and BTG3 in cancer tissue and CC cells was significantly decreased, while the expression of miR-373-5p was significantly increased in cancer tissue and CC cells compared with paracancerous tissue and normal cervical cells.The targeting relationship between SATB2-AS1 and miR-373-5p was confirmed. Compared with NC group, overexpression of SATB2-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation butinduced apoptosis. Overexpression of miR-373-5p promoted cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, but this effect was partially saved by SATB2-AS1.Conclusion:Up-regulation of LncRNA SATB2-AS1 expression regulated the miR-373-5p/BTG3 axis and participated in the progression of cervical cancer, subsequently inhibited cancer cell proliferation but induced apoptosis.