To identify frequently mutated genes implicated in NPC, a total of 37 candidate genes (those known to be implicated in cancer pathogenesis) and 5 mutated cancer genes listed in COSMIC (EGFR, CDKN2A, PTEN, KRAS, PIK3CA), were prioritized for further assessment with an additional 88 NPC cases. This evidence concerns the gene PTEN and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.