NPC has been regarded as an Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐associated epithelial malignancy.14, 15 LMP1, a latent membrane protein coded by EBV genes, has been confirmed as the only malignant transformation gene of EBV.16, 17 LMP1 seems to be induced by proteins of CREB/ATF.18, 19, 20, 21 EBV gene expression is initiated by the activation of the BamHI W promoter (Wp), which has been activated by ATF/CREB transcription factors.22 With those evidences, we speculated that ATF1 might be related to the NPC's risk. This evidence concerns the gene CREB1 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.