The trend analysis of the data base of the Italian Network of Cancer Registries has had a descriptive approach. The period of study has been from 1986 to 1997. Within this period we have included only nine Registries that were active for at least ten years (pool AIRT). For three Registries few lacking incidence years have been estimated according to their observed data. For the pool of Registries standardised (standard = European population) incidence and mortality rates have been computed with the direct method. The so called joinpoint analysis has been used to detect temporal points of trend change. Trends have been summarised by means of estimated annual percent change (EAPC) of the rate. Age-specific and birth cohort-specific rates have been also computed.