| A non-psychoactive chemical that occurs naturally | | | | continues to play." |
| in the marijuana plant may prevent breast cancer | | | | "In this case, you shoot the conductor, and the |
| from spreading, according to a study published in | | | | whole orchestra is going to stop," he said. |
| the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. | | | | Because CBD occurs in only very small quantities |
| Researchers found that a chemical called | | | | in the cannabis plant, the researchers do not |
| cannabidiol (CBD) affects the activity of a gene | | | | recommend smoking marijuana as a cancer |
| known as Id-1 in patients with | | | | treatment. To be effective, CBD will either have |
| hormone-independent breast cancer. In embryos, | | | | to be artificially synthesized or extracted and |
| Id-1 is responsible for helping cells grow and | | | | concentrated. The chemical's major advantage, |
| spread, but is supposed to remain inactive in | | | | according to the researchers, is its apparent |
| adults. In human adults, it is found only in | | | | non-toxicity. |
| metastatic cancer cells, or cancer cells that are | | | | "Right now we have a limited range of options in |
| spreading throughout the body. "When [the Id-1 | | | | treating aggressive forms of cancer," co-author |
| genes] wake up, they are very bad," said senior | | | | Sean D. McAllister said. "Those treatments, such |
| researcher Pierre Yves-Desprez. "They push the | | | | as chemotherapy, can be effective but they can |
| cells to behave like embryonic cells and grow. | | | | also be extremely toxic and difficult for patients. |
| They go crazy, they proliferate, they migrate." | | | | This compound offers the hope of a non-toxic |
| According to Desprez, shutting off the activity of | | | | therapy that could achieve the same results |
| Id-1 can make cancer far less lethal. Tumors, | | | | without any of the painful side effects." |
| Desprez says, can be "removed easily by | | | | The researchers also expressed hope that CBD |
| surgery," but if the cancer is spreading then the | | | | will also prove effective against other cancers |
| disease becomes much more difficult to contain. | | | | that rely on Id-1, including brain, colon and prostate |
| "[Id-1 is like] an [orchestra] conductor," Desprez | | | | cancer. |
| said. "If you shoot the violinist, the orchestra just | | | | |