International event brings world's top cancer doctors ...( Over 200 of the world's top cancer s...)

Over 200 of the world's top cancer specialists will be in Belfast this week to share their knowledge at an International Cancer Symposium organised by Queen's University.

The event, being hosted by the Centre for Cell Biology and Cancer Research (CCRCB) on Wednesday and Thursday, will be attended by leading academics from across America, Australia and Europe, including those from Harvard Medical School in Boston and from Oxford and Cambridge universities.

One in three people in Northern Ireland will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their life and the conference aims to build on international links to improve cancer treatments for sufferers.

CCRCB is currently carrying out around 50 national and international clinical trials into various cancers with the aim of offering patients new treatment options which will have the best outcomes for them as well as fewer and less severe side effects.

The Centre has three successful spin-out companies - ALMAC Diagnostics, Fusion Antibodies and I-Path - employing nearly 200 people.

Two young researchers will present their studies at the event entitled 'Cancer: Found in Translation'.

Dr Kelly Redmond from Newry and Dr Jenny Quinn from Londonderry will be among the international line-up of speakers sharing their knowledge about the latest developments in cancer research.

Dr Redmond will speak about her research into a molecule called FLIP which blocks chemotherapy from working in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer death in the US and Europe. By decreasing FLIP levels in NSCLC cells they become more sensitive to chemotherapy.

She said: "This is an important finding as it suggests that if we can decrease FLIP levels with new types of drugs, the cancer but not the normal lung tissues will be more effectively killed by chemotherapy."

Dr Quinn's research has focused on trying to find the best chemotherapy treatment
'/>"/>