In this study, we examined RKIP expression in thirty normal nasopharyngeal mucosal tissues, one hundred and twenty-seven NPC tissues with different metastatic potential and twenty paired neck lymph node metastases, analyzed the association of RKIP expression with NPC metastasis and patient prognosis; determined the role of RKIP in NPC invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo; and explored whether Stat3 signaling mediates the effects of RKIP on NPC invasion and metastasis. Here, PEBP1 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.