Our results confirmed that miR-124-3p overexpression significantly decreased the proliferation and colony formation of NPC cells by interacting with PCDH8 and inhibiting the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.