Objective To analyze the effect of ATAD2 on glioma cell lines.Methods ATAD2 level in U87MG, U251 and normal human astrocytes was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.U87MG and U251 cells were divided into four groups: control, mock (lipofection control), ATAD2 siRNA (transfected with ATAD2 siRNA) and ATAD2 overexpression (transfected with ATAD2).Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were respectively measured by MTT and Transwell assay.The level of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin was measured by Western blot.Results ATAD2 was highly expressed in U87MG and U251 cells.Compared with control, cell proliferation, invasion, migration, N-cadherin and Vimentin expression were decreased by ATAD2 siRNA, while they were promoted by ATAD2 overexpression (P<0.05).E-cadherin expression was upregulated by ATAD2 siRNA and it was inhibited by ATAD2 overexpression (P<0.05).Conclusions ATAD2 participants in human glioma cells metastasis via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).