To investigate resveratrol, one of the food derived polyphenols that might be partially responsible for the beneficial effect on cancer, the in vitro antitumor activity of resveratrol against pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1, BxPC-3 and AsPC-1) was examined, together with the mechanisms involved. The effects of resveratrol on the growth inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle were assayed. The activity of caspases and the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, XIAP and Bax protein were detected. The results showed that resveratrol inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Resveratrol inhibited the cell growth of PANC-1, BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells with IC(50) values of 78.3 ± 9.6 μmol/L, 76.1 ± 7.8 μmol/L and 123.1 ± 6.5 μmol/L at 48 h, respectively. Incubation of pancreatic cancer cells with resveratrol resulted in cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrests. Resveratrol induced activation of caspases. Simultaneously, resveratrol regulated the expression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and XIAP and the proapoptotic protein Bax. PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells were more chemosensitive to resveratrol than AsPC-1 cells. In conclusion, resveratrol inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by inducing apoptotic cell death. There was different sensitivity to resveratrol in different pancreatic cancer cell lines.