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.