Background As a kinase, Pim-1 is proved to phosphorylate a series of substrates to exert its founction and play important role in many malignancies by elevated expression. It is warranted that depressing of Pim-1 activity might be a neoteric oncological treatment strategy. SGI-1776 is a novel small molecule and the first clinically tested inhibitor of Pim kinase family. The effect of SGI-1776 on salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) was investigated in the present study. Methods Expressions of Pim-1 in ACC and adjacent normal tissues were measured by Westernblot. After SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells were exposed to SGI-1776, cell proliferation was analyzed by BrdU assay and colony formation. Cell cycle, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected by flow cytometry. Caspase-3 activity was measured by Fluorescence microplate reader. Effects of Pim-1 on cells invasion ability were evaluated by scratch assay.Results Pim-1 highly expressed in ACC tissue compared with adjacent normal tissues. SGI-1776 reduces cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, causes cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial depolarization, decreases invasive ability and increases caspase-3 activity in SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells.Conclusion This study confirmed the pivotal role of Pim-1 in ACC. It is also deduced that targeting Pim-1 kinase signal pathway by SGI-1776 would be a promising therapeutic method for ACC.