Using a series of functional and biochemical analyses, we identified that miR-141 enhances resistance against microenvironmental stresses and anoikis by targeting and repressing KLF12 expression, which allows Sp1 to upregulate survivin expression, an inhibitor of intrinsic apoptotic pathway, is crucial in promoting cell survival, proliferation and peritoneal metastases of ovarian cancer. Here, BIRC5 is linked to ovarian cancer.