A NEW chemical compound which could speed up cancer diagnoses and cut out biopsies has been developed by North-East scientists.

Researchers at Durham University believe the compound could be combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to help identify the progression of diseases such as cancer.

As well as helping to diagnose a condition at an earlier stage, it could also remove the need for investigative surgery.

The researchers, headed by Professor David Parker, have created a chemical which contains fluorine.

Scientists believe the chemical could be injected into the patient before an MRI scan.

Because the fluorine responds differently, according to the varying acidity in the body, the Durham team believes that cancers could be highlighted in such a scan.

The researchers are part of an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funded group developing new ways of imaging cancer.

Prof Parker, of Durham University's department of chemistry said: "There is very little fluorine present naturally in the body, so the signal from our compound stands out.

"When it is introduced in this form it acts differently, depending on the acidity levels in a certain area, offering the potential to locate and highlight cancerous tissue."

His team is the first to design a version of a compound containing fluorine which enables measurements to be taken quickly enough and to be read at the right frequency to have the potential to be used with existing MRI scanners, while being used at sufficiently low doses to be harmless to the patient.

Prof Parker stressed there is still a lot of work to do to translate the research into a practical application.

However, Prof Parker said he believed this new approach could be of "considerable benefit" in the diagnosis of diseases such breast, liver and prostate cancer.

Durham University has filed a patent and is looking for commercial partners to help develop the research.

Prof Parker believes that molecules containing fluorine could be used in mainstream MRI diagnoses within the next decade.

Chris Hiley, head of research management at the Prostate Cancer Charity, said the research "has potential to help show exactly where cancer may be in the body".

The research is published in the scientific journal Chemical Communications.