'CANNABIS' MAY HALT BREAST CANCER

USA -- A compound found in cannabis may stop breast cancer spreading
throughout the body, US scientists believe.

The California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute team are
hopeful that cannabidiol or CBD could be a non-toxic alternative to
chemotherapy.

Unlike cannabis, CBD does not have any psychoactive properties so its
use would not violate laws, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics reports.

The authors stressed that they were not suggesting patients smoke marijuana

They added that it would be highly unlikely that effective
concentrations of CBD could be reached by smoking cannabis.

CBD works by blocking the activity of a gene called Id-1 which is
believed to be responsible for the aggressive spread of cancer cells
away from the original tumour site - a process called metastasis.

Past work has shown CBD can block aggressive human brain cancers.

The latest work found CBD appeared to have a similar effect on breast
cancer cells in the lab.

Future Hope

Lead researcher Dr Sean McAllister said: "Right now we have a limited
range of options in treating aggressive forms of cancer.

"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."

Dr Joanna Owens of Cancer Research UK said: "This research is at a
very early stage.

"The findings will need to be followed up with clinical trials in
humans to see if the CBD is safe, and whether the beneficial effects
can be replicated.

"Several cancer drugs based on plant chemicals are already used
widely, such as vincristine - which is derived from a type of flower
called Madagascar Periwinkle and is used to treat breast and lung
cancer. It will be interesting to see whether CBD will join them."

Maria Leadbeater of Breast Cancer Care said: "Many people experience
side-effects while having chemotherapy, such as nausea and an
increased risk of infection, which can take both a physical and emotional toll.

"Any drug that has fewer side-effects will, of course, be of great interest."

But she added: "It is clear that much more research needs to be carried out."