Drug's 'anti-cancer effect' study

The study will look at if survival rates can be improved

Doctors are hoping to recruit 2,400 people with lung cancer for a trial to see if a drug has anti-cancer effects and can prevent blood clots.

The research, based at Velindre Hospital in Cardiff, involves the drug Fragmin and whether it can help thin the blood and improve treatment.

People with lung cancer are at a higher risk of potentially fatal blood clots.

The Cancer Research UK-funded study is expected to be one of the world's largest, involving 100 UK centres.

The risk of blood clots in people with lung cancer is increased in their veins because of chemotherapy, surgery, inactivity or the illness itself.

Blood clots can be dangerous and sometimes fatal if they dislodge and travel to the lungs or heart.

They can also cause pain in the chest and breathlessness. The drug is designed to prevent such clots.

Wendy Sweeting is taking part in the trial

During the trial, researchers plan to investigate if the Fragmin drug also has an anti-cancer effect.

It is thought the blood-thinning drug may affect how cancer cells spread through the blood stream and the trial leaders are hoping to find out if this is true.

The trial, which was created by Dr Fergus Macbeth and Dr Simon Noble at Velindre, is hoping to recruit 2,400 patients and is due to involve between 50 and 100 centres around the UK.

Dr Macbeth, the lead researcher on the trial, said: "Blood clots are quite common in people who have lung cancer and may be dangerous.

"With this research, we hope to learn how to reduce the risk of this problem and improve the treatment for patients.

"We are working hard to find better and more effective ways to treat this difficult illness."

One lung cancer patient taking part, Wendy Sweeting, from Machen, Caerphilly, said: "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to assist medical science.

"Being on the trial means that I'm receiving a drug for thinning the blood and preventing blood clots, which has helped patients with other forms of cancer and which I might not have received otherwise.

"I'm receiving great care and kindness from my cancer team and I feel I'm helping research vital to improving treatment for many other patients like me."

Kate Law, Cancer Research UK's clinical trials director, said: "Lung cancer remains the second most common cancer in the UK.

"It is vital we continue to research new treatments and also improve existing treatments for the disease."