The aim of the present study was to determine to what extent 9-cis beta-carotene, one of the most abundant naturally-occurring cis-isomers of beta-carotene, can inhibit the growth of cervical dysplasia-derived cells in comparison with all-trans beta-carotene. We found that 9-cis beta-carotene was dose-dependently more effective than all-trans beta-carotene. Both carotenes induced the intracellular accumulation of heat-shock protein-70 (HSP70), and the treated cells showed morphological changes indicative of apoptosis. The results of the present study strongly suggest that the induction of HSP70 by beta-carotene might be involved in beta-carotene-mediated suppression of the cell growth through apoptosis.