MicroRNA-650 (miR-650) has been shown to regulate the development of human cancers. The present study investigated the role of miR-650 in ovarian cancer by targeting Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF12). The results showed a down-regulation of miR-650 in tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-650 caused a substaining decrease in the viability of CAOV3 cells by promoting apoptotic cell death. In silico analysis and dual luciferase assay revealed KLF12 as a potential target of miR-650. Unlike miR-650, KLF12 showed a substantial up-regulation in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. However, miR-650 overexpression suppressed KLF12 expression posttranscriptionally. Intrestingly, KLF12 knockdown inhibited the viability of CAOV3 cells by promoting apoptotic cell death. However, the expression of KLF12 eliminated the tumor suppressing effects of miR-650 in CAOV3 cells. Additionally, KLF12 knockdown or miR-650 overexpression suppressed CAOV3 cell migration and invasion. However, KLF12 overexpression eliminated the inhibitory effects of miR-650 on the migration and invasion of CAOV3 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that miR-650/KLF12 axis regulates the viability, migration, and invasion of CAOV3 cells an0d may prove to be an important therapeutic taregt.