Spanish researchers use cannabis extract to reduce brain tumours
An active extract from the cannabis plant could be used to reduce the size of brain tumours and other cancers by restricting their ability to grow blood vessels to feed themselves, according to Spanish researchers. As reported in New Scientist, Manuel Guzmán and his colleagues at Complutense University in Madrid used the cannabis extract delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in both mice and human volunteers to block a chemical needed for tumours to produce blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. The extract exhibited this ability even in patients with the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The team stress that the results are preliminary and that the study itself is ongoing, but describe them as a good starting point. Another team member, Cristina Blázquez, told New Scientist: 'The cannabinoid inhibits the angiogenesis response - if a tumour doesn't do angiogenesis, it doesn't grow. So if you can improve angiogenesis on one side and kill the tumour cells on the other side, you can try for a therapy for cancer.' To achieve these results, the team examined the effects of the marijuana extract on 30 mice. They found that it blocked the expression of several genes related to the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is needed for angiogenesis, which allows tumours to develop a network of blood vessels to power their growth. In the mice and in two human brain cancer patients, the cannabinoid significantly lowered VEGF activity. 'We saw that the [mice] tumours were smaller and a bit pallid,' said Ms Blázquez, adding that the pale colour reflected their lack of blood supply. In their human patients, she says of the treatment, 'It seems that it works, but it's very early.' Richard Sullivan, head of clinical programmes at 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.'
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