Interestingly, there are exclusive associations between high LMP1 expression and genetic defects of NF‐κB negative regulators, indicating that NF‐κB pathway could be activated by somatic mutations without LMP1 expression, further strengthening the crucial role of the NF‐kB pathway in the pathogenesis of NPC. This evidence concerns the gene PDLIM7 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.