14 DAY TRIAL // Together with researchers in Spain, scientists working with the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom have gained new insight into how a compound found in cannabis interacts with tumors and causes them to shrink.
The specialists expect that, in time, their findings will aid the development of new and improved treatment options for people who have been diagnosed with various types of cancer.
In a paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the specialists behind this research project explain that the scientific community has for some time been aware of the fact that cannabis can impair tumor growth.
More precisely, several experiments have shown that the chief psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, dubbed THC, has the potential to not only slow tumor growth, but also cause such abnormal masses of tissue to shrink.
Looking to better understand the mechanisms at play when THC acts on tumors, the University of East Anglia scientists and their colleagues carried out a series of experiments on laboratory mice, a press release concerning this study tells us.
Thus, they first used human cancer cells to coerce the rodents' bodies into developing tumors, and then exposed the abnormal masses of tissue to THC. It was discovered that just two cell receptors helped the compound act on the tumors.
“THC, the major active component of marijuana, has anti-cancer properties. This compound is known to act through a specific family of cell receptors called cannabinoid receptors,” Dr. Peter McCormick said in a statement.
Furthermore, “We show that these effects are mediated via the joint interaction of CB2 and GPR55 - two members of the cannabinoid receptor family. Our findings help explain some of the well-known but still poorly understood effects of THC at low and high doses on tumor growth.”
Dr. Peter McCormick and fellow researchers expect their findings will make it easier for the pharmaceutical industry to roll out man-made compounds that mimic the effect of THC on tumors, and can therefore be used to treat cancer.
Despite the promising outcome of these experiments, the specialists say that people should not try to use cannabis to treat cancer all on their own. As Dr. Peter McCormick put it, “Cancer patients should not use cannabis to self-medicate.”
“By identifying the receptors involved we have provided an important step towards the future development of therapeutics that can take advantage of the interactions we have discovered to reduce tumor growth,” the specialist added.