A chemical found in the cannabis plant has “significant therapy potential” for treating pancreatic cancer, according to a study in mice at Harvard’s Dana Farber Cancer Center. The chemical FBL-03G is a derivative of a flavonoid, which are found in cannabis and other plants.
Yahoo, Frontiers in Oncology
- “The most significant conclusion is that tumor-targeted delivery of flavonoids, derived from cannabis, enabled both local and metastatic tumor cell kill, significantly increasing survival from pancreatic cancer,” researcher Wilfred Ngwa Ph.D. said.
- There’s likely to be more than a year more of pre-clinical studies before it can be tested in humans.
- The flavonoid is only in cannabis in miniscule quantites, but scientists have figured out a way to genetically engineer cannabis flavonoids.
- Pancreatic cancer only accounts for about 3% of U.S. cancer cases, but it is among the deadliest forms of the disease.
- The chemical has the potential to treat other cancers as well, according to Ngwa.
Quick Hit
- Doctors warn not to use cannabis before surgery, because of how it can react with anaesthesia.
Boston Globe
