Objective To explore the effect of phospholipase C δ1 (PLCD1) transfection on the biological behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells. Methods HPDE6C7 normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells and CAPAN-1, PANC-1, ASPC-1 and BXPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells were cultured. Reverse transcription PCR was used to screen the pancreatic cancer cells with low expression level of PLCD1. Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-PLCD1 transfected pancreatic cancer cells CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 with low expression level of PLCD1, and meanwhile the corresponding vector pcDNA3.1 transfection group was set up. The expression level of PLCD1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription PCR, and the protein level was examined by Western blotting in pancreatic cancer cells CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 after transfection. After the expression of PLCD1 was upregulalted in CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells, the cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay; flow cytometry was used to test the cell cycle and apoptosis; Transwell(TM) assay was performed to evaluate the invasion and migration ability of the cells. Results The study obtained CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 cells with lower expression of PLCD1. The expression levels of PLCD1 mRNA and protein obviously increased in CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 cells after transfected with plasmid pcDNA3.1-PLCD1, and the abilities of cell proliferation, invasion and migration were restrained. The cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase, and cell apoptosis was remarkably promoted. Conclusion PLCD1 transfection can induce the apoptosis of CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 cells, arrest the cell cycle in G0 /G1 phase. Meanwhile, it inhibits the abilities of cell proliferation, invasion and migration of CAPAN-1 and BXPC-3 cells.