Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) on expression of E-cadherin and ICAM-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and their relative role and metastasis mechanism in NPC. Methods The expression of LMP1,E-cadherin and ICAM-1 protein in thirty-one cases of chronic nasopharyngitis,thirty-two cases of NPC and twenty-four cases of lymph nodes with NPC metastases was detected by SP immunohistochemistry. Results The expressions rates of LMP1 and ICAM-1 in NPC and lymph nodes with NPC metastases were obviously higher than those in chronic nasopharyngitis,while those of E-cadherin in NPC and lymph nodes with NPC metastases were obviously lower than in chronic nasopharyngitis.Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the expression of LMP1 and E-cadherin in both NPC and lymph nodes with NPC metastases and a significant positive correlation between the expression of LMP1 and ICAM-1. Conclusion It is suggested that in NPC and lymph nodes with NPC metastases,LMP1 may affect the cell adhesion and accelerate the invasion and metastasis of NPC by inhibiting the expression of E-cadherin and increasing the expression of ICAM