Vaccine to cure skin cancer would be available in the next five years. Professor Ian Frazer, of the University of Queensland, revealed that tests of the vaccine had proven successful on animals. Trials of the vaccine on humans would commence in the coming year. 

The new skin-cancer vaccine works by targeting papillomavirus. It is a common skin infection that affects most people but if left to  linger in the body it turns into cancer. "What we've learnt together, through the study of animal models, is that the skin has natural defences which switch off killer T cells," he told the conference.

But Professor Ian Olver of the Australian Cancer Council said that even if the efficacy of vaccine was proved  in humans, the normal rules of sun exposure would also need to be followed.

"The traditional prevention messages of staying out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, covering up and using sun screen still apply.

"This would be an extra layer of protection."

Despite it limitations, Mr Olver said the discovery of the vaccine was "a good sign for the future".