Objective To use a meta-analysis method to establish quantitatively the association between the HER-2/neu gene amplification/enhanced protein expression status and the 5-year post-operative survival rate or median survival time in women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Methods We searched and screened Chinese and English literature published since 1989 to collect all retrospective cohort studies on the prognostic significance of HER-2/neu status in this population. The survival data were analyzed using Ludwig’s centered signed rank and the DerSimonian-Laird method. Results In total, 25 studies involving 3 251 patients were included. HER-2/neu was positive in 27.1% (95%CI 0 to 54.8%) of patients, which was not related to the pathological stage, type or grade of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In HER-2/neu positive cases, the median survival time was shortened by 0.65 years, and the 5-year survival rate was lowered. The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was 1.22 (95%C 1.09 to 1.36). By subgroup analysis, HER-2/neu protein expression was found to be most significant in prognostic assessment. Patients with a b positive value of HER-2/neu had an increased HR for the 5-year survival; and platinum-based chemotherapy was demonstrated to be less effective in HER-2/neu positive ovarian carcinoma. Conclusion In gynecological oncology, it is reasonable to measure HER-2/neu as a routine pathological marker to predict a patient’s prognosis and to determine the most appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.