Although cardiovascular disease is still the main cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly, numerous epidemiological studies have disclosed an increased incidence of neoplastic disease in this age group over the past few years. A population of 3282 > or = 65-year-old subjects taking part in the Cardiovascular Study in the Elderly was monitored to discern whether a number of variables, already recognized as predictive factors of overall and cardiovascular mortality, could also affect neoplastic mortality. Apart from age, which was the chief risk factor for neoplastic mortality, sex, cigarette smoking, the presence of respiratory symptoms and the blood levels of some enzymes were predictors of cancer mortality. These results must nevertheless be regarded with caution as a number of non-neoplastic diseases typical of the elderly may mimic the signs and symptoms of cancer.