IL-1β exerts its effects on target cells by binding the cell surface IL-1 type-1 receptor (IL-1R1) leading to the activation of a signaling cascade that results in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and transcriptional regulators such as NF-κB.19 Embryonic and adult NPC express IL-1R1 and undergo cell cycle arrest when exposed to IL-1β in vitro. Here, IL1R1 is linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.