Chemotherapy will be 'obsolete in 20 years time' thanks to genetic revolution which will allow personalised treatment for cancer patients

• Landmark project to study about 75,000 cancer patients over next four years
• DNA of healthy and tumour cells will be mapped to help transform treatment
• Prime Minister said it will make Britain the world leader in genetic research
• Chemotherapy could be obsolete for treating a range of cancers in 20 years

Drugs that target cancer without harming healthy cells and triggering distressing side effects could be a reality in 20 years, claim British scientists.

A landmark project to map 100,000 complete DNA code sequences is set to transform treatment of cancer and rare diseases, meaning chemotherapy could be obsolete within a generation.

David Cameron said it will make Britain the world leader in genetic research as he announced a package of deals worth £300million to carry out the work, expected to be completed by 2017.

Over the next four years, about 75,000 patients with cancer and rare diseases, plus their close relatives, will have their whole genetic codes, or genomes, sequenced. Cancer patients will have the DNA of both healthy and tumour cells mapped, making up the 100,000 total. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2712781/David-Cameron-hails-gene-revolution-make-chemotherapy-obsolete-20-years.html