Purpose:　Carboplatin　is　a　first-line　treatment　for　ovarian　cancer.　However,　most　patients　develop　resistance　and　undergo　disease　recurrence.　This　study　aims　to　explore　the　relationship　between　the　expression　of　X-linked　inhibitor　of　apoptosis　protein　(　XIAP)　and　carboplatin　sensitivity　in　ovarian　cancer.　Patients　and　methods:　We　examined　the　expression　of　XIAP　in　ovarian　cancer　by　immunochemistry.　Next,　we　investigated　the　role　of　XIAP　in　regulating　carboplatin　sensitivity　in　ovarian　cancer　ES2　and　3AO　cells　through　Cell　Counting　Kit-8　cell　viability　assay　and　fluorescein　isothiocyanate-Annexin　V/propidium　iodide　apoptosis　assay.　Expression　of　apoptotic　effectors　was　measured　by　Western　blot.　Results:　The　immunochemistry　results　showed　that　high　XIAP　expression　levels　inversely　correlated　with　carboplatin　response　(P=0.03)　and　progression-free　survival　(P=0.0068)　in　patients　with　ovarian　cancer.　Knockdown　of　XIAP　repressed　the　cell　viabilities　in　the　carboplatin-treated　cells　and　increased　carboplatin-induced　caspase　activation.　In　summary,　our　data　show　that　XIAP　mediates　carboplatin　sensitivity　of　ovarian　cancer.　Conclusion:　In　summary,　our　data　show　that　XIAP　mediates　carboplatin　sensitivity　of　ovarian　cancer　and　XIAP　may　be　a　novel　target　for　the　treatment　of　carboplatin-resistant　ovarian　cancer.