Objective To investigate the expression of galectin-3 in pancreatic cancer cell and its effect on the proliferation and invasion of SW1990.Methods Immunocytochemistry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of galectin-3 protein and mRNA in SW1990,PANC1 and ASPC-1 cell lines.Galectin-3 mono-antibody of different concentrations ( 1,2,3,5 μg/ml) was used to treat SW1990 cells for 24,48,72 h,CCK-8 kits were used to detect the proliferation in SW1990 cells; Transwell chamber was used to study the invasion in SW1990.Results Expression of galectin-3 protein and mRNA was present in SW1990,PANC1,and ASPC-1.Galectin 3 mono-antibody inhibited the proliferation and number of invasive cells in a dose and time dependant manner.The inhibitory rates at 72 h were 19.8％,29.9％ and 42.7％ in 2,3,5 μg/ml galectin 3 mono-antibody groups,the difference among them and control group was statistically significant ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The inhibite rate of permeating membrane cells in 3 μg/ml galectin-3 mono antibody was 37.1％,the difference between this group and control group was statistically significant (P ＜0.05 ).ConcLusions Galectin-3 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer cells.Galectin-3 antibody can inhibit the proliferation and migration capability of SW1990 cells.