Recognition of cervical neoplasia by the estimation of a free-radical reaction product (octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid) in biopsy material.

Linoleic acid (18:2(9,12)) and its diene-conjugated isomer (18:2(9,11)) were measured in 65 cervical biopsy samples. Both the 18:2(9,11) concentration and the 18:2(9,11)/18:2(9,12) molar ratio showed highly significant differences between the normal and precancerous groups. Both showed a further significant increase in 4 invasive carcinomas. The findings in histologically normal areas from organs with precancer correlated significantly with the results in the precancerous lesions.