British scientists could treat or even cure cancer using a groundbreaking technique that finds and attacks the “Achilles’ heel” of tumours, they say. Research by University College London harnesses the body’s immune system to wipe out each cancer cell in a “potentially revolutionary” way. It promises to be effective against fast-mutating types of the disease, such as lung cancer, that have so far evaded most treatments. Scientists are hopeful that it will work on all cancers. Researchers involved in the latest breakthrough warned that the work was in its early stages and trials were needed before it could be used to treat patients. Charles Swanton, from the UCL Cancer Institute, said: “I will be disappointed if we haven’t treated a patient [in a trial] within two years.” About 160,000 people die from cancer each year in the UK, accounting for almost a third of all deaths. Half are from lung, bowel, breast and prostate cancer. The research, published in the journal Science, describes a method for creating individualised cancer treatments by finding a key change common to all cells in a person’s tumour and mobilising the immune system to fight it. Peter Johnson, from Cancer Research UK, said that the work was very exciting. “[It is about] understanding at a fundamental molecular level what it is that the immune system can see in tumours, leading to effective treatments. We have big optimism about what it will delive
A war crimes court trying seven British servicemen heard written evidence from Mr Kifah Taha Musa Mutairi, one of eleven Iraqi detainees allegedly abused by British soldiers in a detention camp in Basra in 2003. The court is also hearing evidence relating to the death, in custody, of an Iraqi hotel receptionist Mr. Baha Musa.

Mr. Mutairi died in what is said to have been an unrelated incident, when the roof of his house fell on him. 

The court martial now in its fifth week, heard how Mr Mutari said he was treated three years ago in a holding camp in Basra. In written testimony, he said that prisoners had been given names of famous footballers and had been punished if they did not answer to them, even when woken from sleep. 

The prisoners, hooded and handcuffed, were beaten and kicked in the style of a kickboxer. Mr Mutari testified that when he was kicked in this manner, he feared he would be beaten to death without any mercy whatever. 

He said that petrol had been rubbed on his nose and that he had been threatened with a lit cigarette lighter held close to his head, being told that he would be burned.

The death of hotel receptionist, Mr Baha Musa (26), another of the prisoners is of concern to the court. Mr Mutari's statement referred to how Mr Musa was treated, saying that he was beaten and constantly crying out in pain. It is said that British soldiers found arms, including grenades, AK47 rifles and Soviet uniforms, in the hotel where he was the receptionist. 
 
One of the accused, Corporal Donald Payne (35), has already pleaded guilty to crimes under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. The other defendants include Colonel Mendonca who is accused of failing to ensure that the detainees were not ill treated.

All the accused were members of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment, now The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.