Aims and background: Given the industrialization in Italy over this pa
st century much migration has occurred within the country especially f
rom southern to northern regions. Following repeated drainings of the
pre-existing marsh area (Pontina plain) during the 1930s the Latina pr
ovince received an unusual north-south immigration from the regions of
Veneto, Friuli and Emilia Romagna. This consisted principally of manu
al workers, farmers and their families. Four new towns developed after
a few years (Littoria, later renamed Latina, Sabaudia, Pontinia and A
prilia), and the whole province quickly reached a population of 60,000
. The availability of a population-based Cancer Registry in the Latina
province allowed us to assess the cancer risk in this migrant populat
ion. Methods: Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) according to cancer
site and sex were computed for residents over the age of 55 years, bo
rn in northern Italy. Population data, by sex, age and region of birth
were based on the 1981 census. The age-sex-site specific incidence ra
tes for the 1983-1987 period for the entire population of the Latina p
rovince over 55 years of age were used as standard. Results: A signifi
cant excess of cancer risk for subjects of both sexes born in northern
Italy was found. In addition, a statistically significant higher risk
was observed for the cancers of the lung, skin (non-melanomas) and pr
ostate in males, and of the mouth-pharynx, lung and skin (non-melanoma
s) in females. Conclusions: SIRs for all sites confirm the findings fr
om other studies on migrants in Italy and strongly support the hypothe
sis that the place of birth has an important influence on the frequenc
y of cancer. Some possible etiological factors are suggested for cance
r sites with higher frequencies in northern-born subjects.