A non-psychoactive chemical that occurs naturally in the marijuana plant may prevent breast cancer from spreading, according to a study published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
Researchers found that a chemical called cannabidiol (CBD) affects the activity of a gene known as Id-1 in patients with hormone-independent breast cancer. In embryos, Id-1 is responsible for helping cells grow and spread, but is supposed to remain inactive in adults. In human adults, it is found only in metastatic cancer cells, or cancer cells that are spreading throughout the body.
"When [the Id-1 genes] wake up, they are very bad," said senior researcher Pierre Yves-Desprez. "They push the cells to behave like embryonic cells and grow. They go crazy, they proliferate, they migrate."
According to Desprez, shutting off the activity of Id-1 can make cancer far less lethal. Tumors, Desprez says, can be "removed easily by surgery," but if the cancer is spreading then the disease becomes much more difficult to contain.
"[Id-1 is like] an [orchestra] conductor," Desprez said. "If you shoot the violinist, the orchestra just continues to play."
"In this case, you shoot the conductor, and the whole orchestra is going to stop," he said.
Because CBD occurs in only very small quantities in the cannabis plant, the researchers do not recommend smoking marijuana as a cancer treatment. To be effective, CBD will either have to be artificially synthesized or extracted and concentrated.
The chemical's major advantage, according to the researchers, is its apparent non-toxicity.
"Right now we have a limited range of options in treating aggressive forms of cancer," co-author Sean D. McAllister said. "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."
The researchers also expressed hope that CBD will also prove effective against other cancers that rely on Id-1, including brain, colon and prostate cancer.
Marijuana Chemical Cannabidiol Halts Spread of Breast Cancer Tumors
Monday, June 2, 2008
Marijuana Chemical Cannabidiol Halts Spread of Breast Cancer Tumors
NYSE Arca Morning Update
Stocks trading on NYSE Arca at a price more than 15% away from the previous trade day's consolidated close price. (As of 08:30:00 ET)
Stock | Friday's Close | Current Price | Pct Chng | Current NYSE Arca Vol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ACOR | $21.53 | $25.96 | 21% | 59,224 |
10 Most Active stocks on NYSE Arca as of 08:30:00 ET
| Based on Dollar Volume: | Based on Share Volume: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
NYSE Arca Morning Update
Pre Market Movers
Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACOR) shares are up 18% on news of positive drug trials.
GM (NYSEGM) is up over 4% after a positive article in Barrons'.
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) is up almost 4% on news that one of it cancer drugs has new applications.
Harris Bank (NYSE:HRS) is up 3% on comments by its CEO that the bank is not for sale.
Wachovia (NYSE:WB) is off over 3% on news that it has fired its CEO.
Posts from the Before The Bell Category at BloggingStocks
Opening View: Toyota Motor Could Slash U.S. Outlook, General Motors Rises
Checking in on currencies and commodities, the dollar is on the rise once again this morning, with the U.S. Dollar Index up 0.17% at 73. Meanwhile, gold futures are also trading higher, with the August contract up $1.70 at $893.50. Finally, crude futures are off sharply in electronic trading, with the July contract down $1.39 at $125.98 per barrel.
Turning to equities, data released at this weekend's annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology revealed that ImClone's ( IMCL: 
sentiment, chart, options) Erbitux drug doesn't get a response in some colorectal cancer patients and that adding it to Genentech's (DNA: sentiment, chart, options) Avastin also doesn't help colorectal cancer patients. Elsewhere, Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR: sentiment, chart, options) shares climbed nearly 30% in electronic trading after a positive Phase III trial of a multiple sclerosis drug.
In automaker news, Toyota Motor (TM: sentiment, chart, options) is reportedly considering lowering its U.S. sales forecast due to a worsening outlook for pickup trucks and SUVs, according to the Financial Times. Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's president, told the Times that while the company hoped to make up for the lost truck and SUV sales this year by selling more smaller cars, he was "not sure" this would be enough to offset the drop in large vehicle sales. "As of now we haven't changed our original annual plan yet, but we may have to scale back," Watanabe said.
Shares of Toyota competitor and Detroit darling, General Motors (GM: sentiment, chart, options) rose in pre-market trading after a Barron's article postulated that the stock could rise to $30 per share or even $45 once big cost reductions lift earnings in 2010. "And if the stars align perfectly -- the economy enjoys a second-half uptick and the housing market and consumer confidence turn for the better sooner than expected -- the stock's rebound could be quicker. Even a small improvement in sentiment could bring a disproportionate rise in the stock," the article said.
Opening View: Toyota Motor Could Slash U.S. Outlook, General Motors Rises
Pre-Market Most Active Stocks - NASDAQ Premarket
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-Market Most Active Stocks - NASDAQ Premarket
