Cancer drug Talzenna could be used to tackle type of brain tumour that killed Sarah Harding

A CANCER drug could be used to tackle the aggressive type of brain tumour that killed singer Sarah Harding.

A study will see if Talzenna can beat the currently incurable condition.

It is already a treatment for other forms of the disease and works by preventing cancer cells from repairing their DNA, which kills them off.

Girls Aloud star Sarah died last month aged 39 from secondary breast cancer, which spread to her brain and lungs.

Current treatment options for the condition are limited.

Dr Simon Vincent, director of research at charity Breast Cancer Now, said: “We desperately need to find new ways to treat this incurable disease.

“An estimated 35,000 people in the UK are living with secondary breast cancer and the fear that it will cut their lives short.

“It can affect women of all ages and just last month we heard that Sarah Harding had tragically died from this devastating disease."

Of the Talzenna study, he added: “We are delighted to announce this project and hope it will lead to effective new treatments for patients who urgently need them.”

An estimated 35,000 people in the UK currently have secondary breast cancer. Previous research has shown breast cancer that spreads to the brain often has changes to the way it repairs its DNA.

Professor Leonie Young, of the Royal College of Surgeons, who will be leading the study, said: “We believe secondary breast cancer tumours in the brain could be vulnerable to drugs like Talzenna.”