Lead author Professor Alan Ashworth, director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the ICR, said: "This research uses an approach we pioneered for breast and ovarian cancer patients which is showing great promise in clinical trials. We think we can have the same success with patients whose bowel cancer has been caused by one of these faulty genes.

"We need to identify a drug to exploit this weakness in cancer cells so that we can provide improved treatment for this type of the disease. We are also looking to apply this new approach to other types of cancer and other genetic faults as we move towards tailored treatments."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "These scientists have revealed the mechanism by which these inherited genetic faults in individual bowel tumours could be harnessed into powerful tools to attack cancer cells. The next step is to design drugs that turn this into a realistic treatment option for patients.

"Cancer Research UK has played a pivotal role in funding research to discover and develop treatments based on a similar approach which have already entered clinical trials in patients and are showing considerable promise. It's very encouraging to see the development of highly targeted treatments tailored to the requirements of individual patients becoming a reality as it offers the opportunity to design new drugs that are truly selective."

Source: Cancer Research UK