Kolkata, April 2. (PTI): A procedure for treatment of cancer with homeopathy may be established within the next six months following trials at a leading medical center in the United States, an expert connected with the project claimed here.

"The trials on mice to establish the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine have already begun in the United States and by August this year we should be able to establish its efficacy," Dr Susanta K Banerjee, a professor of haematology and oncology said.

Prof Banerjee, who is the director of Cancer Research Unit at the Kansas University Medical Center, said that the trials were being done with the involvement of the National Cancer Institute of the US.

He said that the homeopathy medicines on trial now were the same as those used by leading homeopathic doctor Prasanta Banerjee in Kolkata for many years for the treatment of cancer.

"The success of the trials in the US will only ensure its acceptance as an alternative medicine for treatment of cancer under the modern system of medication," he said.

Dr Prasanta Banerjee, widely recognised for homeopathic treatment of cancer, said that in more than 40 years of practice he had repeatedly seen the efficacy of homeopathy for treating cancer, including brain tumour.

He said that during his years of practice, which has now grown to almost 1000 patients daily, he had standardised the medicine for treatment of cancer.

To a query, the doctor said that he had not invented new medicine but found new applications of old medicines. "I am confident about its effectiveness."

Asked whether he was planning to patent his medicine, he said, "I am not interested in money and only want that our medicine be recognised so that anyone can get it from any homeopathic medicine shop."

Prof Susanta Banerjee, who had done his doctorate in genetics from Calcutta University before moving to the US to join the University of Kansas, said that he started taking interest in the treatment of cancer by Dr Prasanta Banerjee as he had cured a record 30 to 40 per cent cases.

He said that he worked in collaboration with the PBH Research Foundation, set up by Dr Banerjee, and initiated a move to prove the effectiveness of the medicine through a trial.

"Authorities in the US are quite concerned about the growth of cancer as it has become the third biggest killer. They are even looking at alternative medicines for cure, which everybody knows are available in China or India," he said.