To investigate the effect of forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) on the chemosensitivity of human cervical cancer cell line HeLa / DDP to cisplatin. Methods The eukaryotic expression vector containing sense FOXM1 complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) and empty plasmid were transfected into human cervical cancer cell line HeLa /DDP by liposome transfection, which were recorded as over-expression group and over-expression control group respectively. In addition, the recombinant vector and empty vector interfering with FOXM1 gene expression were constructed and transfected into human cervical cancer cell line HeLa /DDP mediated by liposome, which were recorded as silencing group and silencing control group respectively. Blank group and inhibitor group were set. Every group set 5 wells, and cisplatin was added to each of well, and thiostreptomyces peptide was added to the inhibitor group for 48h. The expressions of FOXM1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were detected by real time reverse transcription fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot(WB).The morphological changes were observed by inverted microscope. The inhibition rates of cell proliferation were detected by thiazole blue (MTT). The apoptosis rates were detected by flow cytometry. RT-qPCR and WB were used to detect the expressions of Cyclin B1, CDC25B, survivin, p21 mRNA and proteins. Results Compared with the blank group, the expressions of FOXM1, CyclinB1, CDC25B, Survivin mRNA and proteins decreased in the silencing group and inhibitor group (P＜0.05), and the above indexes increased in the over expression group (P＜0.05). Compared with the blank group, the proliferation inhibition rates, apoptosis rates, p21 mRNA and protein expressions increased in the silencing group and inhibitor group (P＜0.05), and the above indexes decreased in the over expression group (P＜0.05). The cells in the blank group, the silencing control group and the over expression control group were tightly connected, uniform in shape and clear in outline. The cells in the over expression group were tightly linked. The cells in the silencing group and the inhibitor group were reduced, with unclear outline, uneven in shape and different in size, and cell shrinkage and cell fragments were seen. Conclusion Down regulation of FOXM1 expression can increase the chemosensitivity of human cervical cancer cell line HeLa / DDP to cisplatin, while up regulation of FOXM1 expression can reduce its chemosensitivity. It is speculated that it is related to positive feedback regulating the expressions of Cyclin B1, CDC25B and survivin, and negative feedback regulating the expression of p21.