18/04/2007 16:00:00
Marijuana may help fight lung cancer
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An ingredient found in marijuana may help fight lung cancer, the most
lethal of all cancers worldwide, say scientists.
In lab and mouse studies, the compound known as THC
(Tetrahydrocannabinol) cut lung tumour growth in half and helped prevent
the cancer from spreading, said Anju Preet, a Harvard University
researcher in Boston who tested the chemical. Earlier researches suggest
that cannabis compound could help fight brain, prostate and skin cancers
as well.
The latest finding builds on the recent discovery of the body's own
cannabinoid system, Preet said. Known as endocannabinoids, the natural
cannabinoids stimulate appetite and control pain and inflammation.
THC seeks out, attaches to and activates two specific endocannabinoids
that are present in high amounts on lung cancer cells, Preet said. This
revs up their natural anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation can
promote the growth and spread of cancer.
In the new study, the researchers first demonstrated that THC inhibited
the growth and spread of cells from two different lung cancer cell lines
and from patient lung tumours.
Then they injected THC into mice that had been implanted with human lung
cancer cells. After three weeks, tumours shrank by about 50 percent
compared with tumours in untreated mice, reported the online edition of
health magazine WebMD.
While a lot more work needs to be done, "the results suggest THC has
therapeutic potential," Preet was quoted as saying. The findings were
presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer
Research.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12456
Author:
Hindustan Times via UKCIA
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