The 'cell of origin' thought to trigger all types of cancer and allow the disease to spread has been found, scientists claim.

Laboratory tests showed the cell to blame cheats death and breaks out of a zombie-like state to run amok and create a tumour.

Salford University researchers have described their discovery as being like managing to find the proverbial 'needle in a haystack'.

Laboratory tests showed the cell to blame cheats death and breaks out of a zombie-like state to run amok and create a tumour

But the findings, hoped to rewrite medical textbooks on the growth of cancer, could be a blow to existing treatments, such as chemotherapy.

Professor Michael Lisanti, study author, said: 'We may have to press the reset button on how we treat cancer with drugs.'

He added: 'Scientists talk about cancer being caused by dying cells coming back to life, so-called 'zombie-cells'.

'We now see it is more dramatic than that. In fact, it could be more accurately described as a prison break.

'In other words, this origin cell breaks out of line and runs amok, multiplying malignant cells and creating a tumour.'

He warned some chemotherapy can encourage stem cells to proliferate more, which may aid the growth of tumours.

WHAT IS SECONDARY BREAST CANCER? Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic breast cancer, is when tumour cells which started in the breast move to other parts of the body. The secondary cancer can take years to return, and does not always reappear in the breast. Some 35,000 people are thought to be living with the disease – some 35 per cent of women who get breast cancer will be diagnosed with secondary cancer within 10 years. Places commonly affected by spreading cancer include the bones, brain, liver, lungs and skin. While primary breast cancer can usually be operated on or cured with drugs or radiation, secondary cancer is incurable. Because secondary cancer has already started spreading around the body you can never be completely cured of it. But chemotherapy, hormone drugs and other treatments can slow down the growth and spread of tumours and improve patients' lives. Life expectancy varies depending on how advanced the cancer is, but many women live for years with the condition under control. Source: Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now Advertisement

Two samples of human breast tumours were examined for the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology.

The scientists used fluorescent markers to isolate the most energetic cells taken from the samples in the laboratory.

A tiny proportion of the cells - now branded energetic cancer stem cells (eCSC) - had much more energy than the others.

They also had more 'stemness' - capability of creating a tumour - and high levels of proliferation - rapid increase in numbers.

It is currently unclear how the rogue cells are able to break out of senescence - a process linked to ageing that causes cells near the end of their lives to 'freeze' and stop multiplying - and further tests are needed to prove any theory.

But the researchers believe the eCSCs may use antioxidants and the mitochondria – the cell powerhouse – to launch an attack.

Professor Lisanti said: 'It feels like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack, and it crucially gives us a new window on cancer and how we might stop it.

'Most cancer patients die because of the spread of tumour cells to distant sites, known as metastasis.

'The evidence is increasingly that metastatic cancer stem cells, fuelled by mitochondria, are responsible.

'Yet, most chemotherapy targets the bulk cancer cells. Some chemotherapy even makes cancer stem cells proliferate more.'

Metastatic cancer, known as stage four, is often not curable. Most treatments exist just to extend a patient's life.

Almost 360,000 people in the UK and 1.7million in the US are diagnosed with cancer every year.