Cannabis for Cancer

The major psychoactive substance in marijuana - tetrahydrocannabinol - can be useful to decrease tumor development in people living with cancer, by a global research group.

Past research has proposed that cannabinoids, of which THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is one, possess anti-cancer characteristics. During 2008, experts at Complutense University in Spain discovered that tetrahydrocannabinol caused the killing of brain cancer cells in a procedure referred to as "autophagy. "

When human tumors in rats were on target with dosages of tetrahydrocannabinol, the experts discovered that a couple of cell receptors were specifically connected with an anti-tumor reaction.

The research workers learned that applying THC to rats with human cancers started autophagy and reduced the tumor growth. Two men with very intense brain tumors who had intracranial administration of tetrahydrocannabinol also proved the same indications of autophagy, upon evaluation.

The personnel in back of the new research - co-led by the University of Anglia (UEA) and Complutense University in the united kingdom - states to have found previously unidentified "signalling systems " which enable THC to reduce tumors.

The experts activated tumors in mice working with samples of human breast cancer cells. After the tumors were focused with dosages of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the experts discovered that two cell receptors were specifically involved with an anti-tumor reaction.

" THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main ingredient of cannabis, possesses anti-cancer attributes. This combination has proven to action through a particular group of cell receptors known as cannabinoid receptors, " claims Dr John N. Kelley, from UEA's College of Pharmacy.

"We indicate that these results are mediated via the combined interaction of GPR55 and CB2 - two contributors of the cannabinoid receptor family. Our studies support explain a few of the known yet still poorly realized benefits of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at high and low doses on tumor development. "

Nevertheless, the team is not sure which receptor is responsible for the anti-tumor benefits.

Dr. John N. Kelley states that there's been a " lot of focus " in knowing the molecular systems powering how cannabis affects cancer pathology. It's been accompanied by a drive in the pharmaceutical world to synthesize a medicinal form of the medicine which keeps the anti-cancer attributes.

"By figuring out the receptors involved we've presented a major step towards the future advancement of therapeutics which can take benefit of the interactions we've found to decrease tumor progress, " says Dr. John N. Kelley.

Why Cancer patients shouldn't 'self-medicate' with cannabis

Cancer affected individuals shouldn't be convinced to self-medicate, Dr. John N. Kelley warns:
"Our study uses a distinct chemical compound and using the right quantity is important. Cancer affected individuals should avoid using cannabis to self-medicate, but I hope that our research can result in a secure synthetic equivalent being offered later on. "

Medical cannabis has been in the media a lot during the last week, with Governor Tim Cuomo confirming the Compassionate Care Act, making New York the 25th state to legalise the medicinal use of this medicine.

Medical News Today also stated about how the city of Berkeley in California - which was the 1st state in America to permit the medicinal use of cannabis, back in The early nineties - has approved legislation which requires the four cannabis dispensaries in the city to supply free medical cannabis to low earning patients who're prescribed this medicine.

At the same time, Arizona has extended the range of problems for which doctors can prescribe medical cannabis as a cure. And also conditions like chronic pain, muscle spasms and cancer, cannabis can be suggested as a kind of modern care for post-traumatic anxiety problem.