Brain tumours shrink with cannabis extract

The cannabis extracts block a key chemical needed for tumours to sprout blood vessels – a process called angiogenesis. For the first time, scientists has shown that cannabinoids impede this chemical in people with the most aggressive form of brain cancer - Glioblastoma multiforme.

Cannabis extracts may shrink brain tumours and other cancers by blocking the growth of the blood vessels which feed them. When the tumour doesnt have a blood supply it eventually doesn't grow and if we can target therapy for the tumour cells that are formed already, we sure can find a therapy for cancer.

How it works ?

Marijuana extract(delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) inhibited the expression of several genes related to the production of a chemical called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

VEGF is critical for angiogenesis, which allows tumours to grow a network of blood vessels to supply their growth. The cannabinoid significantly lowered the activity of VEGF in two human brain cancer patients. The drug did this by increasing the activity of a fat molecule called ceramide.

On treating the brain tumour patients with cannabinoid, the tumour became pale and small reflecting the loss of blood supply to the tumour. Its in the early stages of the research.

Now to put good use of cannabis in Neurosurgical field into reality...