ObjectiveTo study the effects and mechanism of Octreotide to inhibit the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells in vitro. MethodsHuman gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 was treated with Octreotide. Human fibroblast cell line HF and 5FU were used as control. MTT assay and fluorescent microscopy as well as flow cytometry were performed in this study. ResultsOctreotide inhibited the growth of SGC7901 in vitro within certain concentrations. The suppression was quantity dependent but did not occur when up to a certain concentration. There was no difference between Octreotide and 5FU in their inhibition on SGC7901. Octreotide had no effects on normal human fibroblast cell line HF. When SGC7901 was treated with Octreotide, the typical apoptotic bodies were identified by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. ConclusionOctreotide can inhibit the proliferation of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 in vitro. The induction of apoptosis by Octreotide might be the primary mechanism.