Objective To investigate the tumor inhibition effect of paclitaxel long-circulating thermo sensitive liposomes (PLTL) in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Methods A tumor-bearing mouse model was established, and the mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, heating, paclitaxel (PTX), paclitaxel thermo sensitive liposomes (PTL), and PLTL groups. The living status was observed in the mice. The volume and weight of the tumor were measured. The morphological changes in the tumor cells were observed f by HE staining and apoptosis of the tumor cells was determined by flow cytometry. Results The inhibition rate of tumor in PTX, PTL and PLTL groups was 48.87%, 57.22%and 78.87%, respectively. The apoptotic rate of tumor cell in PTX, PTL and PLTL groups was (42.7 ± 3 .8)%, (54.6 ± 2.9)%and (69.7 ± 5.0)%, respectively. Conclusions PLTL, as compared with PTX and PTL, has an evident thermo sensitive feature and increases the anticancer effect of paclitaxel remarkably in combination with local hyperthermia.