Objective To observe the influence of the indomethacin on the proliferative and invasive activity of OCM-1 human choroidal melanoma cells. Methods OCM-1 cells were cultured with different concentrations of indomethacin (25, 50, 100, 200, 400 mu;mol/L ), and their proliferation were assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium（MTT）, invasive behaviors were examined by cell invasion assays, expression of survivin and VEGF were evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）, immunofluorescence staining, ELISA and western blot analysis. Result All concentrations of indomethacin in this study can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of OCM-1 cells in a time and dosage-dependant manner（MTT/24 h：F=19.642，P＜0.01；MTT/48 h：F=136.597，P＜0.01；MTT/72 h：F=582.543，P＜0.01；invasion assays：F=54.225，P＜0.01）. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that survivin and VEGF mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of OCM-1 cells. Survivin mRNA in OCM-1 cells was inhibited by 100, 200, 400 mu;mol/L indomethacin（F=16.679，P＜0.01）. The concentrations of survivin were (787.3plusmn;47.37), (257.0plusmn;26.21), (123.3plusmn;8.02) pg/ml in control group and 100, 400 mu;mol/L indomethacin groups, respectively. Survivin expression was also significantly down-regulated in indomethacin-treated cells by Western blot analysis.Indomethacin had no effects on VEGF expression in OCM-1 cells.Conclusions Indomethacin can inhibit proliferation and invasion of OCM-1 cells in vitro,down-regulated expression of survivin may be the mechanism.