NOR1 is one of the candidate tumor suppressor genes associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The mammal expression vector of NOR1, pcDNA3.1(+)/NOR1 was constructed and was introduced into HNE1 cell to explore the effect of NOR1 gene on HNE1. The integration of the exogenous vector DNA and the reexpression of NOR1 were detected by RT-PCR and Northern blot respectively. Finally, the cytobiological characterization of positive clone was analyzed by cell growth curves analysis, soft agar assay, cytometry. The growth of HNE1 cells transfected with NOR1 gene was dramatically inhibited compared with the parent HNE1 cells. Flow cytometric data showed that more NOR1 transfected cells went into G0/G1 phase than controls, and it also presented decreased clonogenicity in soft agar. The research indicated that the NOR1 could play a critical role in the progression of NPC due to its results providing a basis study of the function of it.