THE treatment of cervical cancer could be totally revolutionised after a major breakthrough by researchers at York University.

Professor Jo Milner and Dr Ming Jiang, who are funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, used a new technique called RNA interference, which targets cervical cancer cells without causing damage to healthy cells.

The technique itself was discovered last year in Germany, but this is the first time it has been used to attack cancer cells.

The laboratory success, which involved cancer cells taken from a patient in 1970, could be transferred to hospitals in three to five years.

Professor Milner, whose team worked on the project for 18 months, said it was an unexpected, but significant breakthrough and the team was now looking at the technique's effect on other viral cancers.

She said: "I would say it's highly significant in terms of treatment potential for human cervical cancer. It is the first time we have been able to directly block the cancer-promoting virus.

"Even though it's within the cells we can selectively target the cancer genes and block them. As a result of that the cancer cells die."

Cervical cancer, caused by viral infection, is the second most common form of cancer in women worldwide and kills about 1,250 women in the UK alone each year.

Cervical cancer develops when the virus attacks the body's two front lines of defence - its two tumour suppressers, the proteins p53, which can kill damaged cells, and RB, which controls cell division.

The virus attacks both these proteins and takes over the reins of cells growth, causing out-of-control cell multiplication.

With RNA interference the viral gene in the infected cells was knocked out and the body's normal defence mechanism was restored. It caused no side effects to health cells.

Professor Milner said risky operations and other cancer treatments could be avoided in the future if the technique was refined for use. She said: "Screening for cervical cancer is very important and this could be used for treatment once we get early diagnosis. We don't know at this point how we would do this, but we are very excited - it's a hugely powerful technique."

Elaine King, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: "This really is encouraging news and proves once again that the research we fund in Yorkshire really is world class. The hard work and dedication of Yorkshire Cancer Research-funded scientists is unwavering and it is this ongoing research process that brings about these breakthroughs."

Updated: 11:32 Thursday, September 05, 2002