Saxatilin is a disintegrin known to inhibit tumor progression in vivo and in vitro. The role of saxatilin in cancer cell invasion was examined by a modified Boyden chamber assay in MDAH 2774 human ovarian cancer cell line. Saxatilin (50 nM) significantly inhibited cancer cell invasion induced by tumor necrosis factor-$alpha$ (TNF-a$alpha$). Saxatilin also reduced MMP-9 mRNA levels in cancer cells in a dosedependent manner. In addition, TNF-$alpha$-induced MMP-9 activity was reduced by the treatment of saxatilin. These results indicate that transcriptional regulation of MMP-9 is an important mechanism for the tumor suppressive effects of saxatilin in MDAH 2774 human ovarian cancer cells.