Epstein–Barr virus induces the initiation, metastasis and recurrence of NPC through its encoded protein LMP1 and LMP2A.5, 6 Bmi-1 has an important role in the pathogenesis of NPC by inducing EMT via the PI3K/Akt pathway.25 However, tumor-suppressor genes involved in the EMT and metastasis of NPC have rarely been identified. This evidence concerns the gene BMI1 and neoplasm.