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| Cannabis Hope for Brain Cancer |
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Posted by CN Staff on August 14, 2004 at 22:14:08 PT By Murdo MacLeod Source: Scotland On Sunday UK 
Cannabis is set to be used in the battle against deadly brain cancers that affect around 4,000 people in the UK each year, it has emerged. Scientists have shown that cannabinoids - the active ingredients responsible for the drug’s ‘high’ - hold back the growth of blood vessels which feed tumours. Tumours of the brain and the central nervous system kill about 340 Scots each year, and many more undergo extensive surgery in a bid to save their lives. The cannabis findings hold out hope for brain tumour sufferers that they could live longer and be treated using less invasive techniques. The research will also reignite the debate over the use of cannabis for other medicinal purposes. Many multiple sclerosis sufferers have campaigned for the drug to be legalised, but ministers have been reluctant to allow its widespread use. Although the status of cannabis was reclassified in January, which meant that possession of the drug would be less harshly punished, it has still not been legalised for medicinal purposes and supplying cannabis is still treated as a serious offence. The new research, which was conducted by scientists at Complutense University in Madrid, saw cannabinoids injected into mice with gliomas, which are fast-growing brain tumours. The cannabinoids appear to block genes making a protein called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) that stimulates the sprouting of blood vessels. Cutting off the blood supply to a tumour means it is unable to grow and spread. In studies, cannabinoids significantly reduced the activity of VEGF in laboratory mice. They also lowered VEGF levels in tumour tissue samples taken from two patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most lethal type of brain tumour. About 4,400 new cases of brain tumour are diagnosed in the UK each year. A small percentage of these are grade four gliomas, the most aggressive and dangerous brain tumours, also known as glioblastoma multiforme. Only about 6% of people diagnosed with these high grade cancers live for more than three years. The disease is normally treated with surgery, followed by radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy. But the main tumour often evades complete destruction and grows again to kill the patient. Cannabinoids had previously been shown to inhibit the growth of blood vessels in mice. But the mechanism involved remained a mystery and it was not known if the same effect occurred in humans. Professor Manuel Guzman, from Complutense University in Madrid, who led the research, said: "In both patients, VEGF levels in tumour extracts were lower after cannabinoid inoculation." Writing in the journal Cancer Research, Guzman’s team said the findings suggested that cannabinoids may offer a potential new way to treat incurable brain tumours. A leading British cancer expert last night welcomed the findings of the study. Dr Richard Sullivan, the Head of Clinical Programmes for Cancer Research UK, said: "This research provides an important new lead compound for anti-cancer drugs targeting cancer's blood supply. Although this work is at an early stage of development other research has already demonstrated that VEGF is an important drug target for a range of cancers. "The key now will be to show further activity in pre-clinical cancer models, find out in which combinations cannabinoids show greatest activity and formulate a product that can be tested in man." Biz Ivol, a veteran campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes, last night hailed the results but claimed authorities would be unlikely to act on the findings of the study. In 2001, Ivol - who lives in Orkney - was charged with intent to supply cannabis after it emerged that she baked chocolates with cannabis in them and sent them to fellow sufferers to relieve their pain. Ivol was expected to stand trial in 2003 but the case was dropped when the Crown decided not to proceed because of Ivol’s poor health. She then attempted suicide in protest at her treatment. She said: "It’s very good news to hear that there is the possibility of a new development in fighting cancer. But it really is getting more and more ridiculous. There are all these trials and pieces of research which find out all kinds of things but they won’t legalise cannabis. "It could be used to treat hundreds of things and it is legal in other European countries. "Why are we holding out in this country?" Doug Keil, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said that officers were not opposed to the development of medicines based on cannabis but warned that smoking the drug was still an offence. Cannabis-based sprays are also under development but MS sufferers claim that until the sprays are ready to be marketed they should be allowed access to cannabis to ease their chronic pain. Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK) Related Articles: Marijuana Ingredient Inhibits VEGF Pathway Cannabis Extract Shrinks Brain Tumours 'Cannabis' Brain Tumour Drug Hope Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 15, 2004 at 13:06:14 PT |
| Marijuana Chemical May Fight Cancer Madrid, Spain, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Spanish researchers from Madrid have said an ingredient in marijuana may be useful for treating brain cancers, the BBC reported Sunday. The Complutense University team said chemicals called cannabinoids may kill tumors by halting the growth of blood vessels that feed it. By studying mice, the team has shown for the first time how these chemicals block vessel growth. Their study, published in Cancer Research, also shows that the treatment would likely work in humans. Copyright: 2004 News World Communications, Inc. http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040815-032724-4871r.htm [ Post Comment ] |
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