The Times recently published a report by Reuters (June 12) describing recent important research in the treatment of cancer of the prostate gland in men, more specifically the beneficial effect of the use of long-term hormonal therapy in men with locally advanced prostate cancer. The research team was led by Michelle Bolla of Grenoble University Hospital and the findings published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

This research was the sequel to another seminal project, also led by Prof. Bolla, which showed a statistically significant improvement in mortality when hormone therapy was combined with radiotherapy. These important studies were coordinated by the European Organisation For Research into Cancer (EORTC) and it may be of interest to readers to know that through its membership of this organisation the local Department of Urology (in conjunction with the Department of Radiotherapy) took an active part in both projects.

Many Maltese patients were randomised to take part in these studies thus benefitting from the advances in this field while at the same time contributing to research in prostate cancer.

These facts are being brought to readers' attention as proof that, despite our financial and logistical limitations, Maltese medicine can actively participate in and tangibly contribute to fundamental research such as that described in the article.