Calcutta, May 28 :    Calcutta, May 28:  A team of Calcutta-based scientists and a doctor has made advances in making a drug with the potential of revolutionising cancer treatment. Led by Prof Manju Ray of the department of biochemistry at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Jadavpur, the five-member team has conducted trials on 24 patients suffering from malignancy. Most were in an advanced stage of the disease. On administering the drug for six to eight weeks, marked improvement was noticed in 16 patients. The main advantage of the drug, the lead ingredient of which is methylglyoxal, is that it acts on cancerous cells without harming healthy cells. The basic principles of their treatment and their findings were published last month in the Indian Journal of Physics, a respected scientific publication first brought out by C.V. Raman in 1921. Other than Ray, the paper has been written by Swapna Ghosh of the same department, Prof. Manoj Kar of the department of biophysics, molecular biology and genetics at the University College of Science, Calcutta, Dr Santajit Datta, medical practitioner, and Prof. Subhankar Ray of the department of biochemistry, University College of Science. Manju Ray has been conducting research for the last 17 years on the use of the drug in combination with ascorbic acid, vitamins and certain other compounds. The anti-cancer formulation has a tumoricidal effect that inhibits the electron flow of cancerous cells. That is, it smothers the mitochondrial (mitochondria are the source of a cell's energy) respiration of malignant cells. 'The formulation was given to patients on whom conventional anti-cancer drugs had been withdrawn after they had reached a terminal stage,' Dr Datta said. Of the patients, 11 were in 'excellent physical condition', while five were stable. 'Five opted out of the study, while three died during treatment.' Several signs were noticed in patients who responded well. 'They experienced symptomatic relief, their haemoglobin levels rose, they had an appetite and gained weight and had a feeling of general well-being,' the doctor, who carried out the clinical aspects of the study, said. The patients, both male and female with ages ranging between 32 and 78, were suffering from various forms of malignancy. All had given informed consent before treatment. The institutional ethical committee of the IACS had approved the protocol of the treatment, while the Drug Controller General of India also had no objections to the study. The department of science and technology and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research have provided more funds for the study to be carried out at seven other government institutions, Swapna Ghosh said. It will take at least another 18 months before the drug is released in the market. 'A collaboration is being worked out with Dabur to make the drug,' Ghosh said. With the main ingredient being imported, the price will be about Rs 1,000 a month, cheaper than most cancer drugs.