Patients with positive expression of MIP-3α or cystatin A exhibited a poorer prognosis than those with negative expression of MIP-3α and cystatin A. On the basis of the presented results, additional studies are required (a) to evaluate the prognostic relevance of both factors in a more homogeneous and larger cohort of NPC patients; (b) to determine the value of their clinical applicability with respect to the selection of treatment in individual patients with this type of cancer; and (c) to investigate the mechanism of the two factors in the distant metastasis of NPC. The gene discussed is CSTA; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.