One of the earliest chemotherapy drugs appears to work against a genetic fault that can trigger bowel and other cancers, UK researchers say.
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Methotrexate heralded in the modern era of chemotherapy drugs
In the 1940s, doctors reported remarkable results when treating children who were very ill with leukaemia
It works by stopping cancer cells making and repairing DNA and therefore growing and multiplying
Subsequently used as part of chemotherapy regime for many cancers, including breast, bladder and bone
Over the years as medicine has developed other drugs have been preferred
Still used for leukaemia and also now found to be effective for other conditions, such as Crohn's disease and psoriasis