In a previous study, we used cDNA microarray to detect differentially expressed genes among NPC and nasopharyngeal tissues (NP) and observed that expression of p27, a gene encoding cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B, was indicated to be significantly reduced in NPC tissues and cells, hinting its potentially suppressive role in NPC pathogenesis [6] (Additional file 1: Figure S1). The gene discussed is CDKN1B; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.