In this study, we found that in addition to its anti-apoptotic function, ectopic expression of BIRC2 can significantly promote cell proliferation, G1/S progression, invasion, EMT and in vivo tumor growth and metastasis, suggesting that BIRC2 functions as an oncogene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression. Here, BIRC2 is linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.