Objective To observe the outcomes of using different concentrations of arsenic trioxide at varying phases on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and to study the mechanism of this effect. Methods The effect of arsenic trioxide on the growth of breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was observed after applying arsenic trioxide of different concentrations （0.5-16 μmol/Ｌ）. The inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide on the cell proliferation was investigated with 3-(4，5-dimethyl-thizazol-2-yl)-2， 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and the induction of arsenic trioxide on cell apoptosis was detected by DNA ladder and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results The effect of arsenic trioxide on breast cancer cell line MCF-7 depended on the phase and the dose. The number of cell decreased significantly and there were conspicuously typical morphological changes of apoptosis after the use of arsenic trioxide， including membrane blebbing， chromatin pyknosis, nuclear fragmentation and the formation of apoptotic body. The typical DNA ladders were observed in the MCF-7 cells after 48 h administration of arsenic trioxide at concentrations 1-8 μmol/Ｌ. Significant elevations of apoptosis index at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were all detected by TUNEL after incubating with 4 μmol/L arsenic trioxide. Conclusion Arsenic trioxide may inhibit the growth of breast cancer cell line MCF-7 significantly by inducing the apoptosis of breast cancer cell.