This study examined the expression of cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) in pancreatic cancer and the possible mechanism. The expression of CADM1 was detected by immunohistochemistry in tissues of pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, and normal pancreas. The plasmid pcDNA3.1-Hygro(+)/CADM1 was transfected into PANC-1 cells (a pancreatic cancer cell line). The expression of CADM1 in the transfected cells was determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Cell growth was measured by the MTT method and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. The results showed that CADM1 was weakly expressed in tissues of pancreatic cancer in contrast to its high expression in normal pancreatic and pancreatitis tissues. The expression level of CADM in pancreatic caner was intensely correlated with the differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis and TNM stages. The growth of CADM1-transfected PANC-1 cells was significantly suppressed in vitro by a G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis occurrence. It was concluded that re-expression of CADM1 inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells and induces their apoptosis in vitro. As a tumor suppressor gene, CADM1 plays an important role in the occurrence, progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.