A Revolutionary cancer vaccine which uses the body's immune system to destroy and shrink tumours has been developed by UK scientists. It is claimed that the vaccine could be available within three years.

In trials, the vaccine has surpassed expectations, leading to hopes it could prove an effective treatment for cancers that strike tens of thousands of people each year. The tumour in one patient who was given the vaccine disappeared for more than six months.

Another two have seen their tumours shrink, and in three others the cancer has been halted in its tracks.

The researchers said results were "exciting" and "very encouraging".

How it works

• The patient is given a series of injections in the arm containing a harmless virus and a gene for a protein called 5T4.

• This protein is found on the surface of tumours but not on healthy cells. Injecting the gene into the body triggers an immune system reaction which kills the cancer cells but leaves healthy tissue unharmed

Oxford BioMedica, the British company behind the jab, is initially hoping it will provide a new treatment for kidney and bowel cancer. But subsequently it could help in other forms of cancer as well.

It is said that to date 150 patients have been administered the vaccine and 95 per cent of those that can be evaluated have had an "anti tumour response". If further trials prove successful, the vaccine could be licensed for use against kidney cancer within three years.

Experts claimed the data suggests the "gene therapy" vaccine could prove an effective treatment for a whole range of cancers. The new jab called TroVax works in a way totally different from existing treatments by harnessing the patient's own immune system to fight the disease.