HOPES are growing that a new drug developed in the North-East could be one of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer treatment for decades.

Scientists at the Newcastle Cancer Research Unit said last night that extensive tests have confirmed the new treatment's early promise.

The drug could offer new hope to patients suffering from advanced cancers who have not responded to conventional treatment.

If patient trials come up to expectations, it could be the breakthrough millions of patients all over the world have been waiting for.

And North-East volunteers will be the first in the world to try it.

The drug works by disabling a protective mechanism in cancer cells, allowing other drugs and radiotherapy to kill off the out-of-control cells.

It was hoped that trials could happen as early as this year, but scientists were ordered to carry out more tests before trying it out on humans.

While the patient trials have been delayed, the extra tests conducted over the last year suggest the drug has real promise.

Professor Hilary Calvert, director of the Newcastle University Cancer Research Unit, told The Northern Echo that the drug is being subjected to exhaustive laboratory tests and so far has come through with flying colours.

Professor Calvert said: "The results have been extremely good. We are rather more confident about this drug than we were."

Prof Calvert said he hoped the drug could become the first option in the treatment of many cancers.

Professor Herbie Newell, director of the cancer research unit, said it was hoped that patients in the North-East would get the new drug in the summer or autumn of 2001.

When patient trials begin the drug is likely to be used against a variety of cancer types. "They will be patients with advanced cancer of different types.

"Breast cancer will certainly come into it and it will also focus on colon cancer and melanoma," said Prof Newell.

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