A PIONEERING cancer specialist at Mount Vernon Hospital has been awarded an honorary professorship in recognition of his research into ways of fighting ovarian cancer and other tumours.

Gordon Rustin, who is based at the Northwood hospital, was awarded the honorary title by University College, London, for his ground-breaking work in the area of tumour markers in ovarian cancer and tumour vascular targeting therapy methods of destroying tumours by attacking their blood supply.

Tumour markers are chemicals in the bloodstream, whose levels indicate the presence of tumours, helping doctors to monitor the cancer and decide on a course of treatment.

Professor Rustin's research has focused on identifying tumour markers for ovarian cancer and germ cell tumours found in testicular cancer.

Most recently, he conducted trials into a compound extracted from a poison used by Zulu tribesmen to tip lethal arrow heads, which has been shown to kill off tumours by attacking internal blood vessels supplying the masses with oxygen and nutrients.

Scientists hailed the results of the first clinical trials of the CA4P compound as an exciting breakthrough and further trials alongside conventional anti-cancer drugs are due to begin by the end of this year.

Professor Rustin, who has just returned from the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncolgists in San Francisco, where his latest findings were announced, said: "I am proud that my research has been acknowledged in being offered a professorship. The research has only been possible through the assistance and hard work of those in my team and our collaborators."

A spokesman for University College London said: "Gordon Rustin is a distinguished oncologist with an international reputation in ovarian cancer management and germ cell tumours.

"He has conducted pioneering work into the long-term effects of chemotherapy and is an important member of the Gray Laboratory, which is affiliated to UCL.

"As the author of over 200 scientific papers, Gordon Rustin has made a significant contribution to cancer research and richly deserves the recognition an honorary professorship at UCL confers."