Objective To investigate the effect of miR-1285 on migration and invasion of ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells and its mechanism. Methods Human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells in logarithmic growth phase were collected and randomly divided into control group (liposomes added only), miR-1285-NC group (transfected randomly, nonsense sequence), miR-1285-mimics group (transfected with miR-1285-mimics), miR-1285-mimics+yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) group (transfected with miR-1285 mimics and YAP1 overexpressed sequence). Stable transfected cells of each group were tested for relative expression level of miR-1285 by qRT-PCR, for cells migration ability by scratch test, for cells invasion ability by Transwell test, and for the expression levels of YAP1, E-cadherin and vimentin protein by Western blotting. Results The relative expression levels of miR-1285 were obviously higher in miR-1285-mimics group and miR-1285-mimics+YAP1 group than those in control group and miR-1285-NC group (P<0.05), while no significant difference when compared between control group and miR-1285-NC group and between miR-1285-mimics group and miR-1285-mimics+YAP1 group (P>0.05). The wound healing rate and the number of transmembrane cells were decreased in miR-1285-mimics group and miR-1285-mimics+YAP1 group than those in control group and miR-1285-NC group (P<0.05); among which the wound healing rate was obviously higher and much more transmembrane cells in miR-1285-mimics+YAP1 group than those in miR-1285-mimics group (P<0.05). The relative expression levels of YAP1 and Vimentin protein decreased and of E-cadherin protein increased in miR-1285-mimics group and miR-1285-mimics+YAP1 group than those in control group and miR-1285-NC group (P<0.05); while the relative expression levels of YAP1 and Vimentin protein were obviously higher and of E-cadherin protein markedly lower in miR-1285-mimics+YAP1 group than those in miR-1285-mimics group (P<0.05). No significant difference existed between miR-1285-NC group and control group on the wound healing rate, number of transmembrane cells and the relative expression levels of YAP1, Vimentin protein and E-cadherin protein (P>0.05). Conclusion Overexpression of miR-1285 may inhibit the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by down-regulating the expression level of YAP1.