Objective Cisplatin(DDP) is the main chemotherapy drug for ovarian cancer. However, ovarian cancer cells tend to develop cisplatin resistance in the clinical setting. Tumor cells are sensitive to low-dose radiation(LDR). LDR therapy can improve the effects of chemotherapy drugs on ovarian cancer, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we explored the impact of low-dose radiation on Survivin and Caspase-3 levels in SKOV3/DDP ovarian cancer cells that are resistant to cisplatin. Methods Cell viability was examined by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay, and quantitative PCR was used to detect Caspase-3 and Survivin transcript levels. Flow cytometry was used to detect and quantify apoptotic cells. Results Cell viability was lower when cells were treated with LDR and cisplatin than when cells were treated with conventional radiation and cisplatin, or cisplatin alone(P < 0.05). The IC_(50) of cisplatin in the LDR, no-radiation control, and conventional-dose groups was 3.837 ± 0.16, 9.467 ± 0.17, and 9.389 ± 0.17, respectively. The level of Caspase-3 m RNA was higher and the level of Survivin m RNA was lower in the LDR group compared to that in the other two groups(P < 0.05). Conclusion LDR reverses cisplatin resistance in SKOV3/DDP cells, and may do so by suppressing Survivin expression and increasing Caspase-3 expression. However, ovarian cancer cells tend to develop cisplatin resistance in the clinical setting. Tumor cells are sensitive to low-dose radiation (LDR). LDR therapy can improve the effects of chemotherapy drugs on ovarian cancer, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we explored the impact of low-dose radiation on Survivin and Caspase-3 levels in SKOV3 / DDP ovarian cancer cells that are resistant to cisplatin. Methods Cell viability was examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and quantitative PCR was used to detect Caspase-3 and Survivin transcript levels. Results Cell viability was lower when cells were treated with LDR and cisplatin than when cells were treated with conventional radiation and cisplatin, or cisplatin alone (P <0.05). The IC 50 (50) of cisplatin in the LDR, no-radiation control, and conventional-dose groups was 3.83 7 ± 0.16, 9.467 ± 0.17, and 9.389 ± 0.17, respectively. The level of Caspase-3 m RNA was higher in the level of Survivin m RNA was lower in the LDR group compared to that in the other two groups (P <0.05 ) Conclusion LDR reverses cisplatin resistance in SKOV3 / DDP cells, and may do so by suppressing Survivin expression and increasing Caspase-3 expression.