Objectives: To compare the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), TrkA, p75, and VEGF in normal ovaries and in epithelial ovarian carcinomas. To examine the effects on ovarian cancer cell line (A2780) proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis after NGF down-regulation induced by lentivirus induced RNAi. Materials and Methods: The expression and localization of NGF, TrkA, p75, and VEGF in normal ovarian samples and in ovarian cancer samples were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. NGF knockdown in A2780 was achieved by shRNA and cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis was examined by MTT, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: Significantly higher levels of NGF, TrkA, and VEGF were observed in ovarian cancers versus normal ovary, while expression level of p75 maintained stable. In A2780 cells, NGF down-regulation significantly reduced the expression levels of TrkA and VEGF, but did not change that of p75. A significant decrease in proliferation and invasion, as well as an increase in apoptosis was also observed in NGF down-regulation cells. Conclusions: The expression of TrkA and VEGF is importantly induced by NGF. Knockdown of NGF promoted apoptosis, thus inhibited cellular proliferation and invasion in A2780 cells. Therefore NGF block may be a potential therapeutic strategy to treat ovarian cancer.