To explore the relationship between chemokine axis CXCL12-CXCR4 and the pathogenesis and severity of epithelial ovarian cancer.SKOV3 transfected with plasmid, SKOV3 transfected with vector and SKOV3 were cultured in vitro. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) was used to analyze the effects of different concentrations of CXCL12 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of three cell lines and examine the inhibition of neutralizing CXCR4 antibody or antagonist AMD3100. And the load and weight of acquired tumor were determined at different concentrations of CXCL12.CXCL12 could promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of SKOV3/CXCR4 cells in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.05). The effect on CXCL12 tumorigenesis could be inhibited by neutralizing CXCR4 antibody or antagonist AMD3100 (P < 0.05). Significant differences existed in the mean survival time, load and weight of metastatic tumors among the three nude mice.A close correlation exists between chemokine axis CXCL12-CXCR4 and the pathogenesis, metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer. The above axis may be an important pathogenic factor of epithelial ovarian cancer. And the antibody of CXCL12-CXCR4 is probably effective in its management.