Pubdate: Sun, 15 Aug 2004
Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK)
Copyright: 2004 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Contact:  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.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake