In the case–control study, the participants with serum EGF, GCSF, fractalkine, GRO, IL-1α, and IL-7 levels in the highest categories were significantly associated with a decreased risk of NPC compared with those in the lowest categories, whereas MCP-1 was significantly associated with the increased risk of NPC, after adjustment for age, sex, salted fish consumption, family history, and EBNA1/IgA. The gene discussed is IL1A; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.