Objective To explore the effect on apoptotic genes of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell BxPC-3 from subcutaneous transplantation tumor in nude mice induced by 5-FU and sulfasalazine (SZ).Methods Changes of apoptosis-related genes 〔bcl-2, cyclinD1, Bax and NF-κB (p65)〕 in subcutaneous transplantation tumor treated by 5-FU, SZ alone or both at the levels of mRNA and protein were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results NF-κB (p65) at mRNA relative content and protein expression in subcutaneously heterotopic transplantation tumor treated by 5-FU (7.5, 15 mg/kg), SZ (10, 20 mg/kg) alone or both showed significant difference, except for two subsets in SZ group, respectively, in comparison with each control group (P＜0.01). Meanwhile bcl-2 and cyclinD1 at the levels of mRNA and protein, and Bax protein level were significantly different from each control group (P＜0.01). The above-mentioned indexes were show obvious interaction of both by multiple factor analysis of variance. Conclusion Up-regulated level of Bax, down-regulated levels of bcl-2, cyclinD1 and NF-κB (p65) might be one of apoptotic mechanisms that SZ synergistically enhanced apoptotic effect on pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell BxPC-3 of subcutaneous transplantation tumor in nude mice induced by 5-FU.