Since AP-2α expression positively correlated with COX-2 levels in NPCs, we next determined the effect of AP-2α knockdown or overexpression on the expression of COX-2 at mRNA and protein levels in NPC cells by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, and on the release of PGE2 in cell culture media by ELISA assay. This evidence concerns the gene PTGS2 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.