Objective To study the inhibiting effect of docetaxel on the growth of human gastric cells(MKN-45) and the apoptosis induced by docetaxel in human gastric cells and its mechanism in inducing apoptosis.Methods MTT was used to detect the inhibition of cell proliferation.FCM was used to test the distribution of cell phases and the ratio of apoptosis.Electronic microscope was used to observe the configuration of the distribution of cell apoptosis.Results 1.The effective doses of docetaxel to inhibit the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells(MKN-45) was within the range of 1.25()μg·ml^{-1} to 80()μg·ml^{-1};and was positively correlated with the dosage.2.FCM test identified no apoptosis peak after 3()h to 6()h,but did after 8()h with the final dosage of docetaxel of 20()μg·ml^{-1}.The ratio of apotosis was close to 50% in 12()h.3.Compared with the control group,the arrest of cell phase was seen at phase G_2/M after induced for 3()h to 6()h with the dosage of docetaxel of 20()μg·ml^{-1} and the ratio of S phase was decreased.4.Typical morphological changes were seen in cells treated with docetaxel of 20()μg·ml^{-1} for 12()h.Conclusion The new generation of taxanes drug-docetaxel can inhibit the proliferation of MKN-45 and induce apoptosis.