(A) Forty-eight hours after the scratch, the effects of miR-151a-3p on the NPC cell migration were assessed by wound healing assay. (B) The invasive ability of 5-8 cells was evaluated based on the number of invaded cells. (C,D) The protein levels of several epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated genes (MMP-2 and 9 and TIMP-1) were determined by Western blot. (E) The gene levels of MMP-2 and 9 and TIMP-1 were determined by real-time quantification PCR (RT-qPCR). Each value represents mean ± SEM (n=3). GAPDH served as an internal control. **P<0.01 vs. Blank group; ^∧∧P<0.01 vs. inhibitor control.