Derivado da maconha pode ser usado para tratar tumores

[Pablo_RJ]

Um componente da maconha pode ser útil no tratamento de certos tipos de câncer no cérebro, de acordo com uma pesquisa divulgada na Espanha.

Os pesquisadores da Universidade Complutense, de Madri, dizem que substâncias químicas chamadas canabinóides, poderiam impedir o crescimento de tumores, impedindo que o sangue chegue até eles.

O estudo havia sido realizado em ratos, mas os médicos acreditavam que o tratamento também poderia dar certo em humanos.

A equipe liderada pelo Doutor Manuel Guzman realizou a experiência com dois pacientes portadores da forma mais comum e mais agressiva de câncer no cérebro - o glioblastoma multiforme.

Esperança

Os pacientes não tinham melhorado com cirurgia, nem com tratamentos de quimioterapia ou radioterapia.

Uma solução feita com o produto retirado da maconha foi injetada diretamente no cérebro dos pacientes.

Em ambos os casos, o crescimento dos tumores foi controlado.

Apesar de serem apenas dois casos, os pesquisadores espanhóis acreditam que a descoberta possa levar a novos tratamentos, baseados no bloqueio da irrigação sanguínea dos tumores.

[Kinho_Bp]

Ta ae... mais uma utilidade para a nossa querida Hemp!!!

Esse lance de controlar tumores no cerebo eu não conhecia. Valeu Pablo pela cultura...

"Não falo só de manconha, e tenho muita coisa pra dizer..."

[sabotage_zs]

qual a fonte?

[Pablo_RJ]

sabotage, a matéria é da BBC. =)

[VERDIM]

http://www.growroom.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7310

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/s...marijuana.shtml

[Jahphael]

valeu pablo.....

boa Verdim... com link fica mais facil

[Bodom]

E ainda tem gente que tem a coragem de falar que a nossa querida erva destrói neurônios... o povo ignorante...

[Jahphael]

já to "injetando" os cannabinóides JUNTAMENTE com o THC no meu cérebro...

alguem sabe dizer se via oral tb vale????

paz....

[Bas]

Bas escreveu

Pubdate: Sun, 15 Aug 2004

Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK)

Copyright: 2004 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.

Contact: letters_sos@scotlandonsunday.com

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/405

Website: http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/

Author: Murdo MacLeod

Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/cannabinoids

Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Biz+Ivol

Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CANNABIS HOPE FOR BRAIN CANCER

CANNABIS is set to be used in the battle against deadly brain cancers that

affect around 4,000 people in the UK each year, it has emerged.

Scientists have shown that cannabinoids - the active ingredients

responsible for the drug's 'high' - hold back the growth of blood vessels

which feed tumours.

Tumours of the brain and the central nervous system kill about 340 Scots

each year, and many more undergo extensive surgery in a bid to save their

lives.

The cannabis findings hold out hope for brain tumour sufferers that they

could live longer and be treated using less invasive techniques.

The research will also reignite the debate over the use of cannabis for

other medicinal purposes. Many multiple sclerosis sufferers have campaigned

for the drug to be legalised, but ministers have been reluctant to allow

its widespread use. Although the status of cannabis was reclassified in

January, which meant that possession of the drug would be less harshly

punished, it has still not been legalised for medicinal purposes and

supplying cannabis is still treated as a serious offence.

The new research, which was conducted by scientists at Complutense

University in Madrid, saw cannabinoids injected into mice with gliomas,

which are fast-growing brain tumours.

The cannabinoids appear to block genes making a protein called VEGF

(vascular endothelial growth factor) that stimulates the sprouting of blood

vessels. Cutting off the blood supply to a tumour means it is unable to

grow and spread.

In studies, cannabinoids significantly reduced the activity of VEGF in

laboratory mice. They also lowered VEGF levels in tumour tissue samples

taken from two patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most lethal type

of brain tumour.

About 4,400 new cases of brain tumour are diagnosed in the UK each year. A

small percentage of these are grade four gliomas, the most aggressive and

dangerous brain tumours, also known as glioblastoma multiforme.

Only about 6% of people diagnosed with these high grade cancers live for

more than three years.

The disease is normally treated with surgery, followed by radiotherapy

alone or in combination with chemotherapy. But the main tumour often evades

complete destruction and grows again to kill the patient.

Cannabinoids had previously been shown to inhibit the growth of blood

vessels in mice. But the mechanism involved remained a mystery and it was

not known if the same effect occurred in humans.

Professor Manuel Guzman, from Complutense University in Madrid, who led the

research, said: "In both patients, VEGF levels in tumour extracts were

lower after cannabinoid inoculation."

Writing in the journal Cancer Research, Guzman's team said the findings

suggested that cannabinoids may offer a potential new way to treat

incurable brain tumours.

A leading British cancer expert last night welcomed the findings of the

study. Dr Richard Sullivan, the Head of Clinical Programmes for 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.

"The key now will be to show further activity in pre-clinical cancer

models, find out in which combinations cannabinoids show greatest activity

and formulate a product that can be tested in man."

Biz Ivol, a veteran campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis for medical

purposes, last night hailed the results but claimed authorities would be

unlikely to act on the findings of the study.

In 2001, Ivol - who lives in Orkney - was charged with intent to supply

cannabis after it emerged that she baked chocolates with cannabis in them

and sent them to fellow sufferers to relieve their pain. Ivol was expected

to stand trial in 2003 but the case was dropped when the Crown decided not

to proceed because of Ivol's poor health. She then attempted suicide in

protest at her treatment.

She said: "It's very good news to hear that there is the possibility of a

new development in fighting cancer. But it really is getting more and more

ridiculous. There are all these trials and pieces of research which find

out all kinds of things but they won't legalise cannabis.

"It could be used to treat hundreds of things and it is legal in other

European countries.

"Why are we holding out in this country?"

Doug Keil, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said

that officers were not opposed to the development of medicines based on

cannabis but warned that smoking the drug was still an offence.

Cannabis-based sprays are also under development but MS sufferers claim

that until the sprays are ready to be marketed they should be allowed

access to cannabis to ease their chronic pain.