Objective      To evaluate the effects of FoxO3a activation on the proliferation and apoptosis through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) CNE-1 and CNE-2 cell lines.        Methods      Western blotting was used to test the protein expression of FoxO3a and p-Akt. Immunofluorescence staining was used to test the subcellular localization of FoxO3a in CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure the mRNA level of Foxo3a i

n the NPC cells. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to investigate the proliferation and apoptosis in the CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells.        Results      As compared to the control group

the protein and mRNA levels of FoxO3a were increased using PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 in CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells (

P

0.05)

while the nuclear accumulation of FoxO3a was increased significantly in CNE-1 cells (

P

=0.004) and CNE-2 cells (

P

=0.001). The activation of FoxO3a could inhibit cell proliferation (

P

0.05) and promote apoptosis (

P

0.01) of CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells.        Conclusion      PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibition reduces cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells

possibly through the regulation of FoxO3a expression.