A study of more than 170,000 volunteers aged between 55 and 64 suggested that the examination of the lower colon and rectum reduced deaths by 43 per cent. The test, which involves the quick removal of growths with the potential to turn cancerous, is seen as a strategy that could transform prevention and early detection of the disease. In the study group examined, incidence of bowel cancer fell by a third.

Scientists said yesterday that the research, published on The Lancet website, made the national introduction of the one-off test for all men and women at the age of 55 a “no brainer”.

A quarter of the volunteers in the 16-year study underwent a sigmoidoscopy, where a camera mounted on a thin, flexible tube known as a Flexi-Scope was inserted about a third of the way into the bowel. Most bowel cancers stem from polyps or symptomless growths in the rectum and colon and where these were found they were removed in a safe and pain-free procedure, the researchers said.

Bowel polyps are not malignant – but patients may need to have them removed then undergo regular check-ups.

A team of US scientists reported in the journal Nature that their drug – so far tested on mice – could persuade the growths to disappear.

However, one specialist said it was too early to say if the cocktail was safe.

Many research teams are looking for effective ways to suppress or prevent polyps from forming among the healthy cells which line the colon.

These are a particular problem for people with a condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which increases the risk of both polyps and the cancers linked to them.

This can mean frequent colonoscopy checks, in which a camera is inserted into the lower bowel, to make sure new polyps or cancers are not present.

Starting with 829 genes in breast cancer cells, the team whittled down the possibilities to six genes which had an impact on whether a drug worked.

They then showed that these genes could be used to predict the effectiveness of a drug called paclitaxel in patients.

It is hoped the approach, reported in The Lancet Oncology, can be replicated for other cancers and treatments.

The international project, including researchers from Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute, opens the way for breast cancer treatment to be targeted to those who will benefit the most.

To find which genes, if missing or faulty, could prevent the drug from working, they deleted them one by one from cancer cells in the laboratory.

They eventually highlighted the six genes which if absent or not working prevent paclitaxel from properly killing breast cancer cells.