The first trial of a drug which could give hope to patients with asbestos-related and other cancers is under way in Leicester.

It is the first time the drug, known as LDE 225, has been tested on humans.

One patient with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related form of the disease, is on the trial at Leicester Royal Infirmary – the only hospital in the country carrying out the tests.

Two patients with bowel cancer are also taking part in the trial so doctors can see how effective the drug is on other types of the disease.

About 40 cancer patients will be recruited for the tests in total.

Dr Anne Thomas, a consultant oncologist at Leicester's hospitals, said the trial drug, developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals, works by targeting only cancer cells.

She said although it was "far too early to speculate on the effect" of the drug, early signs of the trial were encouraging.

"Cancer cells rely on proteins to divide and separate," she said.

"With this drug, we are trying to cut off the protein and so stop the cancer cells growing and dividing.

"This will stabilise the cancer."

The trial is in its first phase, with five centres worldwide involved.

Anyone taking part in it has to meet strict criteria. Despite having cancer they must be reasonably fit and healthy, and there must be no other treatment option available.

Dr Thomas, also a senior lecturer at the University of Leicester, said: "It will be at least another five years before this drug, if all goes to plan, is widely available.

"There will have to be phase two and three trials, with larger numbers of patients."

Nearly 100 patients a year – 40 of whom are from Leicestershire – are treated for mesothelioma at Glenfield Hospital.

Bernard Dean, 61, from Sandiacre, Derbyshire, is the only man with mesothelioma in the world on the trial.

He is hoping the eight tablets a day he is taking will halt the growth of three tumours in his lungs.

The father-of-two was diagnosed with the cancer caused by breathing in asbestos in January last year.

The former joiner had to stop chemotherapy after four sessions because it was making him so ill. Doctors in Nottingham said they could not operate and there was nothing more they could do.

Mr Dean was thrown a lifeline when he was told there was a slim chance he could get on to the trial in Leicester.

"I know it's the first time the drug has been used outside the laboratory but I knew I couldn't let the opportunity go," said Mr Dean. "If it buys me a few more months or a few more years, it has to be worth it."

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma after going to the doctor with what he thought was a bad cold.

"It was such a shock," said Mr Dean. "Within two hours, I was in hospital."

"I'm feeling very positive now. You either give up or you fight and I am determined to do everything I can to make the most of life."