Objective To study the responsive changes of Maspin protein in radiosensitive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE2 when irradiated, for analyzing the molecular mechanism of radiotherapy for NPC. Methods MTT method was utilized to test the effect of radioactive rays on the growth of CNE2 cell line, flow cytometry to detect the cell apoptosis and cell cycles of CNE2 cell line, and Western Blot to analyze the expression of Maspin protein. Results After being irradiated, the cell cycles of CNE2 cell line were redistributed with increase of G2/M stage cells and decrease of G0/G1 stage cells, cell multiplication was inhibited, apoptosis was enhanced, and the expression of Maspin protein was upregulated. The upregulation of Maspin expression was consistent with the enhancement of cell apoptosis, and was also related to cell cycle redistribution. Conclusion CNE2 cells are radiosensitive and apoptosis is apt to be induced under irradiated situation. Cell cycles participate in the responsive regulation of CNE2 cells induced by radiation. The expression of Maspin protein can be upregulated by radiation, which suggests that Maspin may participate in the responsive regulation of CNE2 cells. The expression of Maspin is involved in cell cycle and apoptosis, and therefore Maspin is a radiosensitive molecular worthy of further study in NPC.