Cancer-busting drug undergoes trials

A new tumour-busting drug is being hailed as a potential major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.

The drug which destroys oxygen-starved tumour cells, has just begun clinical trials in England.

The new treatment destroys hypoxic cells which form up to 30% of any tumour and which conventional methods struggle to reach.

Clinical trials on AQ4N are being held at Leicester's Royal Infirmary and the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, although scientists say it will be years before the drug's true value can be gauged.

Dr Stephanie McKeown of the Radiation Science Research team at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown said: "It's potentially a major breakthrough. I hesitate to say that because you are always reading about these things but it should enhance any solid tumour treatments because they all potentially have hypoxic cells."

Originally designed by Professor Laurence Patterson of the University of London, the drug's development and implementation has been carried out at the University of Ulster.

Funding was provided by the Ulster Cancer Foundation and the UK Cancer Research Campaign.

Dr McKeown added: "The trouble with cancer drugs is does the end product mean the patient lives for another two years or another five years?" she asked.

"But the exciting thing is it's now being given to patients. There's only one other drug of this type in the world and it's looking good in clinical trials, but our drug is looking better in biological tests."