NORTH-EAST scientists have helped make a lung cancer breakthrough which could save lives.

Scientists from across Europe found a link between levels of B vitamins in the blood and a deadly form of cancer.

The discovery could help prevent the disease, lead to earlier diagnosis and reduce the death toll.

The investigation, led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Dr Caroline Relton of Newcastle University, looked at data from 520,000 people over two decades and was published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It shows a reduction in lung cancer risk among people with higher levels of vitamin B6 and methionine. The observed decrease is large, with risk being more than halved in those with high levels of both, and could suggest ways in which diet could be used to change lung cancer risk.

Dr Relton, a senior lecturer in genetic epidemiology at Newcastle University, and joint lead author on the paper, said: “We studied people from across Europe. Of the original group 900 developed lung cancer.

We compared them with a control group of 1,800 and found a disparity in the levels of B vitamins in the blood.

“The individuals who developed lung cancer had far less vitamin B6 and methionine in their blood, whether they were a smoker or a nonsmoker.

In fact we found that people with low levels of B vitamins are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer.

“This could be a good way for doctors to predict who may be more at risk from developing lung cancer and therefore help to prevent this form of cancer in the future.”

Lung cancer is the world’s most common cancer, with an estimated 1.6 million new cases in 2008, representing one in eight of all new cancers.

Tobacco smoking is responsible for at least eight out of ten cases of lung cancer, although many of these occur among people who have stopped smoking, but remain at increased risk.

Identifying ways to reduce lung cancer risk could have important public health benefits, especially among people who have stopped smoking.

Appropriate levels of B vitamins are vital for the cell to make and maintain DNA and disruption of these processes has been suspected of playing a role in cancer. Foods containing high levels of B vitamins and related compounds may therefore be important in reducing risk.