OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between Golgi apparatus and the direction of tumor cell migration in vivo and in vitro. METHODS Cell migration assays were conducted with rat C6 glioma cells, human U251 and SNB19 glioma cells respectively. Then immunofluorescence was used to detect the position of Golgi apparatus in migrating cells. The percentage of cells with Golgi apparatus facing towards wound edge was calculated. Cell pseudopodium was stained with TRITC-phalloidin and the relationship between Golgi apparatus and pseudopodium detected. Immunohistochemistry was used to reveal the Golgi apparatus in tumor tissue samples. And the percentage of cells with Golgi apparatus facing opposite to the necrotic zones was calculated. RESULTS In cells located at wound edge, the Golgi apparatus was found facing towards the wound in the vast majority of cells (C6 83% ± 6%, U251 80% ± 7%, SNB19 82% ± 6%). In U251 and SNB19 cells, the golgi apparatus was located in the same direction with cellular pseudopodium. Immunohistochemical staining showed that in cells located around the necrotic zone, the Golgi apparatus faced opposite to the necrotic zones in most cells (rat tissue samples 80% ± 7%, human tissue samples 82% ± 6%). CONCLUSIONS The Golgi apparatus is closely correlated with cell migration and it may be considered as a direction indicator of cell migration. And it provides an important index for the study of tumor cell invasion both in vivo and in vitro.