A vivid lilac flower might seem an unlikely symbol for the fight against cancer, but the autumn crocus helped Bradford University scientists develop a revolutionary tumour-blasting 'smart bomb' cancer treatment.

Researchers at its Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) took a natural compound from the native British flower, called colchicine, to create a new chemical entity designed to find and destroy all forms of solid tumour while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.

The therapy has been dubbed as a ‘smart bomb’ because it only becomes active and detonates when in contact with an enzyme released by a cancerous tumour.

This means once a tumour is targeted, it breaks up the blood vessels sustaining the cancer and starves it.

As the enzyme is only active in tumours, the drug is unlikely to have any of the side effects on healthy tissue commonly seen in chemotherapy treatments.

It could improve the life expectancy of cancer patients because it causes a significant delay in tumour growth and could be a potential cure when used in combination therapy.

It would mean patients need treatment less regularly, causing less disruption for people suffering the trauma of cancer.

Company Incanthera Ltd, which was set up by University staff and named in tribute to the University’s ICT, is now close to securing the £3 million it needs to prepare for tests on the unique linker molecule, known as ICT2588, which is due to begin trials this year or the start of next year.

The ground-breaking research, which was carried out in Bradford, hit the national and international headlines when it was announced at the British Science Festival in Bradford in 2011.

Their success was partly thanks to Telegraph & Argus readers.

Ten years ago we mounted our Bradford Can. . . cancer research appeal, with the aim of raising £1 million to help fund the state-of-the-art ICT.

A fundraising drive by T&A readers meant the target was reached in 16 months, triggering a further £5 million investment by Cancer Research UK.

Professor Laurence Patterson was appointed the director of the ICT, which opened its doors in 2006, building on already-advanced work being carried out in Bradford to research new forms of less-toxic treatments for cancer.

The ‘smart bomb’ is one example of the type of therapeutic medicine that could be discovered and brought to clinical trials if the pace of discovery could be accelerated through donations to the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Crocus Appeal.