GWENT cancer patients are playing a major role in the research and development of treatments for the disease as part of a thriving clinical trials network.

By the end of last year, 6 per cent of all new patients on United Kingdom-wide clinical trials of cancer drugs were from Wales.

And with the Gwent part of the Wales Cancer Trials Network having expanded this year, more patients from the area will be given the opportunity to take part.

The Wales network began in 1998 with the eventual aim of having 10 per cent of all new cancer patients involved in suitable trials.

The 6 per cent figure achieved last year was across trials for all types of cancer treatments, but the most spectacular success was in breast cancer. More than 18 per cent of new patients for breast cancer clinical trials last year were from Wales.

A clinical trials unit opened early this year at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital, and extra funding has allowed it to expand to take in patients from Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

Most trials involve 1,500-4,000 people, so Gwent is playing an important role in increasing the pool of potential participants.

Breast, lung and colo-rectal (bowel) cancer are the three types of disease being focused on in the Gwent unit, funded by the National Assembly for Wales and Cancer Research UK, the United Kingdom's leading cancer charity.

The Assembly and Cancer Research UK provide £1.5 million of funding for the Wales network.

"We have already seen advances in treatment of cancer. The arrival of ground-breaking new drugs, such as tamoxifen, have made a significant difference," said Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt.

l Ms Hutt shrugged off recent demands for her resignation over the thorny issue of restructuring of the NHS in Wales to announce a £4.5m investment in radiotherapy services in Wales.