The effect of millimeter wave radiation on the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE 1 cell proliferation and apoptosis and the expression of related genes was studied by using cell count, light microscopy and the flow cytometry (FCM). By millimeter wave radiation with 1 mW/cm 2 power density at frequency 42.2GHz and wave length 7.1mm on CNE 1 cells for a duration of 30min/day for 4 days, cell proliferation and cloning formation were inhibited markedly, and cell apoptosis was induced. FCM also revealed that the inhibiting effect of CNE 1 proliferation by millimeter wave was probably associated with the up regulation of P21 and the down regulation of Cyclin D 1. The molecular mechanism of apoptosis inducing may be p53 independent and c Myc dependent. The up regulation of c Myc and Fas and down regulation of Bcl 2 may play an important role in the process of apoptosis.