Japanese scientist who wins Nobel Prize for medicine continues his work into cancer treatment

The Japanese scientist who on Monday won the Nobel Prize for medicine vowed to continue his work into cancer treatment to help as many sufferers as possible.

"I want to continue my research ... so that this immune therapy will save more cancer patients than ever," Tasuku Honjo told reporters at the University of Kyoto where he is based.

He said he would feel "immense joy" when people would say they had recovered from severe illnesses due to his work.

"On top of that, I am receiving such an award. I really feel I am a fortunate person." Honjo said he heard the news of his award while he was discussing academic papers with colleagues and it came "completely out of the blue."

"Of course, I was very happy, delighted at the same time, but shocked." Honjo won the prize, along with US scientist James Allison, for research into how the body's natural defences can fight cancer.

(With inputs from agencies.)