We have found that the expression of DEPDC1 is significantly upregulated in NPC samples relative to non-tumor tissues, and siRNA mediated depletion of DEPDC1 leads to a significant decrease in cell viability and motility, cell cycle arrest and mitotic defects followed by apoptotic cell death in both two representative NPC cell lines studied. The gene discussed is DEPDC1; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.