A potential cancer-killing virus discovered by a group of Chinese scientists is scheduled to be tested on monkeys next week.

A team led by Professor Yan Guangmei from Sun Yat-Sen University has managed to extract the virus, known as M1, from a certain kind of mosquito.

"This kind of mosquito was found by other Chinese scientists in 1964. Our achievement is that we proved the virus carried by these mosquitoes can be possibly used in cancer therapies."

Researchers found the virus could potentially kill cancer cells without harming normal ones.

Testing has found the virus has worked well on cancer cells in the liver, bladder, colon and rectum.

Researchers say it may take up to 3 years before clinical testing can begin.

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