Last Updated: 2003-05-22 11:34:08 -0400 (Reuters Health)

LONDON (Reuters Health) - So many "breakthroughs" are being reported in the battle against cancer that scepticism may set in and research funding dry up, a British scientist said on Thursday.

Professor Rob Newbold, dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences and head of the Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics at Brunel University, near London, called for a halt to "breakthrough fever" in cancer research.

"A new cancer gene is discovered almost every month. This is great progress; however it does raise the question of when these discoveries could translate into treatments," he said in a statement.

Newbold pointed out that genetic discoveries could take years to translate into benefits and that if clinical trials failed, the drugs designed as cures might never appear.

"Despite responsible reporting by cancer research organisations, this can create a public perception that discoveries seldom amount to action -- resulting in widespread scepticism about the true value of cancer 'breakthroughs.'"