Tumor metastasis remains the main reason for treatment failure and death of patients with cervical cancer. The present study was designed to explore the effects of lanthanum chloride (LaCl3) on the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. The migration and invasion of tumor cells was evaluated by a modified Transwell/Boyden chamber assays. It is well known that MMPs (Matrix metalloproteinases) and NF-κB (Nuclear factor-κB) pathway play important roles in migration and invasion of tumor cells, and also the expression of MMPs were regulated by NF-κB signaling. The expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); Western blot and the NF-κB-DNA-binding activity assay were used to analyze the NF-κB activity. The results indicated that LaCl3 was capable of inhibiting the cell invasion and migration of human cervical cancer Hela cells by decreasing the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 via blocking NF-κB pathway. Tumor metastasis remains the main reason for treatment failure and death of patients with cervical cancer. The present study was designed to explore the effects of lanthanum chloride (LaCl3) on the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. The migration and invasion of tumor cells was evaluated by a modified Transwell / Boyden chamber assays. It is well known that MMPs (Matrix metalloproteinases) and NF-κB pathway play important roles in migration and invasion of tumor cells, and also the expression of MMPs were regulated by NF-κB signaling. The expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); Western blot and the NF-κB-DNA-binding activity assay were used to analyze the NF-κB activity. The results indicated that LaCl3 was capable of inhibiting the cell invasion and migration of human cervical cancer Hela cells by decreasing the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 via blocking N F-κB pathway.