A new research has revealed that an ovarian cancer pill for women might provide a highly effective treatment for up to a third of men with advanced prostate cancer. The ovarian cancer, 'Olaparib,' is the first drug which was used to tackle inherited cancer mutations.

Researchers at Institute of Cancer Research found it could also halt tumour growth in many men with treatment-resistant prostate cancer, The Independent reports.

The study included 49 men and one third responded to the drug.

According to the results, cancers stopped growing, numbers of circulating tumour cells in the blood fell, and clinically positive results were obtained from scans.

The blood marker used to track the progress of prostate cancer also plunged by up to 96 percent.

Lead researcher Johann de Bonosaid said that their trial marked a significant step forward in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Bono said that it also proved the principle that they could detect prostate cancers with specific targetable mutations using genomic sequencing to deliver more precise cancer care by matching treatment to those men most likely to benefit.