MILLIONS of cancer patients worldwide have been given a ray of hope by county scientists who are starting trials on a revolutionary new life-saving treatment.

A team of experts from Malvern medical technology company pSiMedica have spent three years painstakingly developing the cancer treatment BrachySil.

The company is working through its subsidiary, pSiOncology, and its partner Singapore General Hospital for the major medical project.

And it has now obtained regulatory approval to begin crucial clinical trials on cancer patients of the revolutionary treatment on people with inoperable liver cancer.

Dr Roger Brimbelcombe, pSiMedica's executive chairman, said he was delighted the company - based on Geraldine Road, on the Malvern Hills Science Park - had been given the green light.

"Receiving approval to enter the clinic represents a significant milestone for us," he said.

The company has already raised £3m from investors, including development trials.

Singapore General Hospital is one of Asia's most progressive hospitals committed to clinical research, and is a major regional centre for liver cancers.

The aim of the trial is to assess the safety of BrachySil - a form of silicon with a radioactive isotope embedded in it which can safely dissolve into the body - as well as monitoring how effective it is by measurement of tumour regression.

The treatment means patients will not need surgery.

Instead, the drug is administered via a fine gauge needle injected through the abdomen.

Ultrasound equipment is then used to guide the doctor towards the cancerous tumour, which is given a single dose of BrachySil.

The company hopes to bring the life-saving product to the commercial market by 2006.