AIM: To observe the effect of receptor-interacting protein 2 (Rip2) overexpression on human pan-creatic cancer cell line Panc-1.METHODS: pEGFP-C2 and pEGFP-Rip2 plasmids were respectively transfected into the Panc-1 cells using JetPRIME reagent.The cells were divided into control group, pEGFP-C2 group and pEGFP-Rip2 group. The apoptosis in the cells was detected 48 h after transfection by flow cytometry.Rip2 level and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, Bax, cytoplasmic cytochrome c ( Cyt-c) and Bcl-2, were analyzed by Western blot.The activity of caspase-3 was measured by colorimetric method.RESULTS: Rip2 protein expression significantly increased in the cells transfected with control and pEGFP-C2 plasmids.The apoptotic rate in pEGFP-Rip2 group was higher than that in control group and pEGFP-C2 group, whereas no significant difference of apoptotic rate was observed between control group and pEGFP-C2 group.The protein expression of Bax and cytoplasmic Cyt-c was remarkably increased and the protein expression of Bcl-2 was obviously decreased in pEGFP-Rip2 group as compared with control group and pEGFP-C2 group.The activity of caspase-3 in pEGFP-Rip2 group was obviously increased as compared with control group and pEGFP-C2 group.CON-CLUSION: Overexpression of Rip2 is able to induce apoptosis in the Panc-1 cells, and the mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of Bax and cytoplasmic Cyt-c protein expression, down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression and en-hancement of caspase-3 activity, thus activating intrinsic apoptotic pathway.