Abstract: OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Art on the proliferation of human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cell line and explore relationship between cell cycle arrest effect of Art and the expression of CDC25A and TGF-β. METHODS Human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cell and healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC) were cultured. The inhibitory effects of Art on cell proliferation were determined by MTT method. The changes of cell cycle of tumor cells were assayed by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of CDC25A mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and the protein expression of CDC25A as well as TGF-β was determined by Western blot. RESULTS Art could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Eca-109. Its IC50 was (68.80±0.76 )μmol/L. It had weaker effect on the proliferation of hPBMC. The cell cycle of Eca-109 was changed greatly after the administration of Art. The number of Eca-109 cells during G0/G1 was increased and that of cells among S phase was reduced under lower doses of Art. However, most of cells were arrested at G2/M phase under the concentration of 100μmol/L. Art could dramatically inhibit the expression of CDC25A in both mRNA and protein levels. The expression of TGF-β was increased at the same concentration of art. CONCLUSION Art inhibited the proliferation of tumor cell, modulated cell cycle by down regulation CDC25A and increased TGF-β.