A NEW study into colorectal cancer is being funded by Southampton medical research charity Hope.

The research, which will hunt for a cure for the second most common cause of cancer death, will use the latest scientific techniques.

Little progress has been made on treatment for the disease as chemotherapy is not particularly effective.

The new study aims to work out what is going on in the development of the cancerous tumour at molecular level, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and eventually new treatments.

Hope director Ray Kipling said: "Hope has been funding cancer research locally for more than 20 years and the cancer scientists we work with are among the best in the country.

"They have already made breakthroughs in several areas, such as the development of DNA vaccines for cancer.

"It is very specialised work and takes time but it does hold out real hope for finding new ways to beat this terrible condition."

The cancer research project is supported by Hope's Innovation Fund.