Objective:To study the effects of cetuximab combined with paclitaxel on proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal car-cinoma cell line CNE-1 and its molecular mechanism. Methods:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-1 were cultured and divid-ed into vacuity contrast group,cetuximab group,paclitaxel group and combination group. The inhibitory rate was detected by MTT,the apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry,and levels of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results:The inhibitory rate and apoptosis rate of combination group were higher than those of cetuximab group and paclitaxel group(P=0.002,P=0.000;P=0.000,P=0.000). EGFR and MMP-2 mRNA levels of combination group were lower than those of cetuximab group and paclitaxel group(P=0.000,P=0.001;P=0.000,P=0.000). EGFR and MMP-2 protein levels of combination group were lower than those of cetuximab group and paclitaxel group(P=0.000,P=0.000;P=0.000,P=0.006). Conclusions:The combination of cetuximab and paclitaxel can increase the apoptosis and decrease the prolif-eration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-1 with a synergistic action,the mechanism of which may through the inhibition of EGFR and MMP-2.