Upregulation of CYP2E1 in HMC‐3 significantly promoted proliferation (Figure 6E) and migration (Figure 6F,G), and inhibited apoptosis (Figure 6H,I) of U251 cells, suggesting CYP2E1 is involved in tumorigenesis or progression of glioma. This evidence concerns the gene CYP2E1 and central nervous system cancer.