DRUG combining is offering better treatment for North-East breast cancer patients, as part of a nationwide trial.

The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, is one of about 20 UK centres offering patients a promising alternative to chemotherapy.

By combining two anti-cancer drugs - tamoxifen and arimidex - doctors have found that, in many cases, tumours can be reduced.

Women who respond to treatment still need an operation, but the therapy avoids more radical surgery.

Early results from elsewhere suggest that tumours shrink in 70 per per cent of cases.

Clive Griffith, a cancer specialist at the hospital, said ten newly-diagnosed patients were given the drugs three months before they were due to have surgery. The outcome was in line with reported results, he said.

"All of our advances in cancer treatment have come as a result of clinical trials, and this is just one of them," said Mr Griffith.

The hospital's breast cancer unit is running about 20 different chemotherapy and endocrine therapy trials. It is looking to recruit another ten women prepared to sign up for the drug trial.

"It is usually patients who have large tumours. Smaller tumours don't usually need treatment before surgery," said Mr Griffith.

An advantage of the trial was that the drugs provided a gentler treatment than chemotherapy.

Mr Griffith said it was frustrating that more cancer patients did not take part in clinical trials, as evidence suggested that they did better than patients who had conventional treatment