Leicester Royal Infirmary to open new cancer research trials unit

The unit will treat a maximum of six patients at a time

A new cancer trials unit is being built at a Leicester hospital in an attempt to improve its work on cancer research.

The unit, partly funded by the Hope Against Cancer charity, will be located at Leicester Royal Infirmary. It is expected to open in March.

The centre will focus on research and treatment of cancers of the pancreas, lung, and kidney as well as melanomas, leukaemia and lymphoma.

Clinicians will use drugs at the very early stage of their development.

"The main focus of these studies is to develop targeted therapies. Doctors therefore hope that these types of drugs will have fewer side-effects, be more effective and will be the drugs of the future," a hospital spokesman said.

Wendi Stevens, of Hope Against Cancer, said: "Our ability to support the construction of this facility is entirely due to the support we have received over the years from local people."

The centre will use a new vaccine therapy for patients with advanced melanoma as well as a new targeted therapy in breast cancer.

It will also use a new tablet treatment for chronic leukaemia which interferes with the signals within the cancer cells, stopping the cells growing and dividing.

The centre will have room for the treatment of a maximum of six patients.