Objective:To observe the inhibitory effects of heat shock protein inhibitor 17-AAG on proliferation and induction of apoptosis of HNE1 cells in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma and investigate its clinical significance for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:MTT reduction assay was used to measure cell viability.Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptotic cells.Hoechst33528 staining and fluorescence microscopy was used for morphological observation of apoptotic cells and calculation of nuclear fragmentations.Results:17-AAG inhibited proliferation and induce apoptosis of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE1 cell line in vitro.The inhibition of proliferation was in time and dose dependent manner.Conclusion:17-AAG could induce human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to undergo apoptosis and can be a potential anti-cancer drug to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma.