Cannabis phytochemical shown to shrink brain tumors

• Researchers in Spain have discovered that a cannabis extract makes brain tumors shrink by halting the growth of blood vessels that supply the tumors with life.
• Cannabis has chemicals called cannabinoids, these are the chemicals that could effectively starve tumors to death, say the researchers.
• The study was carried out at the Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
• The team used mice to demonstrate that the cannabinoids block vessel growth.
• The Spanish team, led by Dr Manuel Guzm�n, wanted to see whether they could prevent glioblastoma multiforme cancer from growing by cutting off its blood supply.
• Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most difficult cancers to treat -- it seldom responds to any medical intervention, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.
• The scientists knew that cannabinoids will block the growth of blood vessels (to tumors) in mice -- they wanted to find out whether the same thing would happen with humans.
• The genes associated with blood vessel growth in tumors through the production of a chemical called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) had their activity reduced.
• Cannabinoids halt VEGF production by producing Ceramide.
• They selected two patients who had glioblastoma multiforme and had not responded to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
• Amazingly, both patients experienced reduced VEGF levels in the tumor as a result of treatment with cannabinoids.
• The researchers said that the results were encouraging.
• In order to be sure about their findings they need to carry out a larger study, they said.
• Dr Guzm�n said "The present findings provide a novel pharmacological target for cannabinoid-based therapies."