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Marijuana compound shows promise in fighting
Breast Cancer
Newswise — A compound found in cannabis may prove to be effective
at helping stop the spread of breast cancer
cells throughout the body. That’s the
finding of a new study published in the
latest issue of the journal Molecular Cancer
Therapeutics.
The study, by scientists at the California Pacific Medical Center
Research Institute, is raising hope that CBD,
a compound found in Cannabis sativa, could
be the first non-toxic agent to show promise
in treating metastatic forms of breast
cancer.
“Right now we have a limited range of options in treating
aggressive forms of cancer,” says Sean D.
McAllister, Ph.D., a cancer researcher at
CPMCRI and the lead author of the study.
“Those treatments, such as chemotherapy, can
be effective but they can also be extremely
toxic and difficult for patients. This
compound offers the hope of a non-toxic
therapy that could achieve the same results
without any of the painful side effects.”
The researchers used CBD to inhibit the activity of a gene called
Id-1, which is believed to be responsible
for the aggressive spread of cancer cells
throughout the body, away from the original
tumor site.
“We know that Id-1 is a key regulator of the spread of breast
cancer,” says Pierre-Yves Desprez, Ph.D., a
cancer researcher at CPMCRI and the senior
author of the study.
“We also know that Id-1 has also been found at higher levels in
other forms of cancer. So what is exciting
about this study is that if CBD can inhibit
Id-1 in breast cancer cells, then it may
also prove effective at stopping the spread
of cancer cells in other forms of the
disease, such as colon and brain or prostate
cancer.”
Unlike cannabis or THC, an ingredient also isolated from marijuana
that is used in some medical treatments, CBD
does not have any psychoactive properties,
so using it would not violate any state or
federal laws.
However, the researchers point out that this is not a
recommendation for people with breast cancer
to smoke marijuana. They say it is highly
unlikely that effective concentrations of
CBD could be reached by smoking cannabis.
The study was primarily funded by the California Breast Cancer
Research Program.
California Pacific Medical Center. Beyond
Medicine
At San Francisco’s California Pacific
Medical Center, we believe in the power of
medicine. We research the most up-to-date
treatments, hire the most qualified
individuals, and practice the most modern,
innovative medicine available. We deliver
the highest quality expert care with
kindness and compassion in acute, post-acute
and outpatient services, as well as
preventive and complementary medicine.
But we also believe that medicine alone is
only part of the solution. That’s why we
look intently at each individual case and
treat the whole person, not just the
illness. It’s why we go beyond medical care
and provide our patients with things like
disease counseling, family support, and
wellness treatments.
As one of California’s largest private,
community based, not-for-profit, teaching
medical centers, and a Sutter Health
affiliate, we are able to reach deep into
our community to provide education,
screening, and financial support in some of
the city’s most underserved neighborhoods.
Because medicine can transform a body. But
going beyond medicine can transform a life.
http://www.cpmc.org
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