Objective To analyze the effect of knocking down SH2 domain containing 2A (SH2D2A) gene on biological behavior of gastric cancer cells. Methods RNAseq data of gastric cancer samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to analyze the expression of SH2D2A gene in gastric cancer tissues and para⁃carcinoma normal tissues. A lentiviral vector for silencing SH2D2A gene expression was constructed using lentiviral transduction technology. Human gastric cancer AGS cells were divided into shCtrl group (transfected with an empty lentiviral vector) or shSH2D2A group (transfected with the SH2D2A⁃silencing lentiviral vector). The SH2D2A gene knockdown effect was verified by real⁃time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot. Celigo cell counting assay, Annexin Ⅴ⁃APC single staining flow cytometry, and Transwell assays were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion capabilities, respectively. Western blot was employed to detect the effects of SH2D2A gene knockdown on the protein expressions of serine/threonine protein kinase (AKT), phosphorylated AKT (p⁃AKT), and v⁃Myc myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (c⁃MYC). Results The expression of SH2D2A gene was higher in gastric cancer tissues than in para⁃carcinoma normal tissues (P<0.05). Compared with the shCtrl group, the shSH2D2A group exhibited decreased mRNA and protein expressions of SH2D2A, reduced gastric cancer cell counts from days 2 to 5 of plate reading, increased gastric cancer cell apoptosis rate, decreased numbers of migrated and invaded cells, and reduced protein expressions of AKT, p⁃AKT and c⁃MYC (P<0.05). Conclusion SH2D2A gene is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues. Silencing SH2D2A gene can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of gastric cancer cells and promote their apoptosis. This mechanism may be related to its regulation of the AKT signaling pathway and the c⁃MYC signaling pathway, collectively exerting inhibitory effects on gastric cancer.