TRIALS of a lifesaving drug for breast cancer are being held at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Bolton is one of five hospitals in the North-west to be selected for the international trial, which will involve 6,000 women around the world.

Local women at risk of developing breast cancer are being asked to take part in the groundbreaking study.

It is hoped the drug on trial, anastrozole, could drastically reduce the chance of breast cancer developing in women who are at high risk.

Up to 150 local women will be chosen to take part in the trial, known as IBIS-11, and they must meet strict criteria.

To take part in the trial, being run by Cancer Research UK, they must be between 40 and 70, have been through the menopause and have a significant family history of breast cancer or have other high risk factors. They must also have not been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Some of the women will be given anastrozole, while others will take a placebo - a tablet which has no effect. None of the women will know which tablet they have been given.

Previous trials of the drug on women who have had cancer in one breast have shown it can reduce the risk of tumours developing in the opposite breast by as much as 50 per cent.

The Royal Bolton Hospital has been chosen for the trial because of good staffing levels and previous research projects, including a trial comparing anastrozole and tamoxifen, another breast cancer drug, which started 10 years ago.

Consultant breast surgeon Hugh Bishop, who is also the president for the Council of Breast Surgeons, said: "We won't be taking on extra staff to run this trial and will only be able to deal with two to three women a week.

"If we could demonstrate that this drug causes a significant reduction in breast cancer, then that would be an enormous achievement.

"We have an excellent team here and have a good record of published research."

The breast care unit at the hospital was one of the first in the North-west and the initial scanning equipment in 1995 was paid for by Bolton Evening News readers after the newspaper launched a campaign.

Heather Edwards, head of communications at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "This is a really important study for womens health and its very exciting that Bolton is involved in this international trial."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "Through trials like this, women and researchers are working together to help discover clear and safe options for helping to prevent breast cancer.

"We urge all women who are concerned about breast cancer to speak with their doctor.

"Understanding your risk of developing breast cancer and knowing what options are available are essential for all women.

"We are asking those women who are eligible for the trial to come forward and help us to find a way to help prevent cancer."

Anastrozole is already being used to treat breast cancer, but this is the first time it has been trialled as a prevention drug.

But Mr Bishop warned there could be side effects with the drug, including joint pain and a slight increase in hip fractures.

Every year, Boltons breast unit deals with about 300 women who are diagnosed with cancer.

It has two specialist surgeons, three breast care nurses and four radiologists.

In Greater Manchester, Oldham and Withington have also been picked to hold the trials and there are 31 hospitals taking part nationally.

For more information about the trial, visit (RAWXML: <link to="http://www.ibis-trials.org">www.ibis-trials.org</link>, (RAWXML: <link to="http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk">www.cancerhelp.org.uk</link> or write to the Oncology Research Team, Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton, or ring 01204 390445 and leave a message.