The smear histories of 312 women with cancer of the cervix have been determined. Eighty nine women had had at least one negative smear reported in the 10 years before a diagnosis of cancer and 14 had had more than one negative smear. Fifty six of the 89 women had had a negative smear in the three years preceding the diagnosis of cancer. The highest number of negative smears (61) reported was among the 115 women aged under 45. Fifty eight slides reported as negative were submitted to independent review; 13 were subsequently reported as negative, 11 as unsatisfactory, and 34 as abnormal.These findings may in part explain why in this region there has been a disappointing reduction in the incidence of clinically invasive cervix cancer, and our findings may also apply elsewhere. Nevertheless, the confirmed negative smears chiefly occurred within three years of clinical cancer, particularly in the younger women, and this finding suggests that these women may have a short preinvasive phase. IntroductionThe relation between cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancer continues to cause controversy, although the bulk of cytological and epidemiological evidence suggests that progression from grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN III) to clinically invasive cancer takes over 10 years.' 2 The overall incidence of invasive cervical cancer in England and Wales has altered little between 1974 and 1980, although there has been some reduction in the number of deaths.3 In reviewing the results for Yorkshire from 1957 to 1982 we found that a change in the age distribution of cases had occurred (see figure). Women aged under 35 are now at greater risk of developing invasive cancer than ever before. Death rates also indicate a change in pattern, with more women dying in the younger age groups compared with women aged over 40 (table I).

A preliminary announcement of a new in vitro blood test for cancer by Field and Caspary appeared in the Lancet of 26 December 1970. The test depends on sensitization of the patient's lymphocytes to a common antigen apparently present in human tumours. We now offer independent confirmation of these findings, together with methods for improving the test towards its future clinical use.

Summary An extraction‐replication technique was used to examine tissue from patients with ovarian and cervical tumours. In both conditions talc particles were found deeply embedded within the tumour tissue. The close association of talc to the asbestos group of minerals is of interest.

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