London, May 23 (IANS): Men who binge drink increase the risk of developing one of the most deadly cancers by more than three times, a team of researchers led by an Indian-origin scientist has found.

US researchers have found a direct link between alcohol and pancreatic cancer, which is often not caught until it is too advanced to be treated, reports express.co.uk.

The study found that merely having a drink increases the risk from 1.5 times to six times, depending on the amount and frequency of boozing. Binge drinking - five or more units in one session increased the risk 3.5 times compared to teetotallers.

Indian-origin researcher Samir Gupta, of the University of California, said: "Reducing heavy and binge drinking may be more important than we already know."

Gupta's team found no link between drink and cancer in women - which may be down to less female binge drinking.

Pancreatic cancer kills 7,600 people a year in Britain. Only three percent of patients survive for five years or more.

Alcohol has been previously shown to increase the risk of liver, bowel and throat cancer.