The Italian authorities have given the go-ahead for trials of a new cancer treatment which is claimed to be a miracle cure for certain types of tumours.

A special ethics committee set up by the Italian Ministry of Health gave its approval to the scheme on Monday.

Nearly 3,000 cancer patients chosen randomly by a computer will take part in the trials. Results are expected to be some months off.

The treatment - a cocktail of drugs, hormones and vitamins - is the lifetime's work of an 85-year-old medical researcher, Professor Luigi Di Bella. He says it can cure certain tumours and even Alzheimers disease.

Although the professor has produced little proof to back up his claims, the avalanche of publicity in Italy about his method and growing public demand for the treatment has forced the government to agree to investigate.

The professor says he has treated about 20,000 patients but admits he does not have all the documentation at hand.

Former Di Bella patient: "I'm leading an active life"

However, there are plenty of former Di Bella patients who insist the treatment has worked for them. "I can walk for miles and I can run, I can ski, I can have a very active life," said Carlo Andrea Ponsele.

The Italian medical establishment remains sceptical. One leading cancer expert has dismissed the Di Bella treatment as the therapeutic equivalent of Lourdes water.

Dr Cora Sternberg, a leading cancer specialist, has also expressed her fears for cancer sufferers.

"I'm very concerned that patients who could benefit from conventional therapy ... are leaving the traditional therapies that have already been evaluated and approved by the scientific community," she said.
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