Association of Epstein-Barr virus with cancers of upper respiratory tract has been recently reported. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of serum IgG and IgM antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (EBVCA) and nuclear antigen (EBNA) in patients with laryngeal cancer. Serum samples from 28 patients with laryngeal cancer were evaluated for presence of IgG and IgM EBVCA and EBNA antibodies using ELISA assay. Serum from 18 healthy age and sex-matched individuals served as control. Patients with laryngeal cancer and healthy subjects were negative for anti-EBV-VCA IgM antibodies (< 20 IU). Serum samples were positive for IgG EBNA in 85.7% of patients with laryngeal cancer and in 72.2% of control group. 89.3% of patients with cancer and 88.8% of healthy individuals were positive for IgG VCA antibodies. The mean level of IgG EBNA (107.8 +/- 71.4) and IgG VCA (124.8 +/- 54.7) antibodies in patients with laryngeal cancer was higher than in control group. The differences were not significant. Patients with N0 neck had significantly higher IgG VCA and EBNA antibodies levels than patients with N1-N3 neck. The results may suggest a role of Epstein-Barr virus in laryngeal cancer pathogenesis.