Survival rates for all types of cancer have doubled in 30 years, but researchers need to focus on incurable forms where there has been “essentially no progress”, a leading cancer charity has said.

Cancer Research UK says it will spend £300 million a year for five years to reduce deaths from cancers of the pancreas, oesophagus and lung. These forms claim more than 48,000 lives a year, partly because of late diagnosis and a lack of effective treatments.

Harpal Kumar, the charity’s chief executive, said: “In these three cancers, there has been a degree of nihilism and even a defeatist attitude. However, progress can and is being made. It is our responsibility to do more.”

Five-year survival rates have improved for almost all the common cancers. In 2001 45 per cent of all cancer patients were surviving for five years, compared with 22 per cent in 1971. Breast cancer has a 20-year survival rate of nearly 70 per cent. Testicular cancer, melanoma and Hodgkin’s disease all have ten-year survival rates of more than 80 per cent. But only 5 per cent of those with pancreatic, oesophageal or lung cancer will live as long.

The charity is funding research into surgery and radiotherapy as well as chemotherapy. It will also establish up to 20 centres of excellence, linking research with patient care and prevention initiatives.

In a separate study, Prostate Cancer Charity suggested that 2,500 lives could be saved every year if the NHS followed best-practice guidelines on treatment.

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