According to a new study involving colon cancer, the development of the tumors could be stopped and even reversed with the help of a chemical usually found in marijuana, although the drug itself would need some additional chemical compounds in order to work. The discovery was made by researchers of the University of Texas, Houston, who found that in most human colon cancer cells the protein receptor for cannabinoids is turned off.

Following this information, in the absence of this receptor, another protein, known as survivin, starts to grow in concentration, helping the cancer cells stay alive and allowing the tumor to grow uncontrollably. In order to show how the cannabinoid receptor influences the growth of the tumors, in which mice were genetically altered to spontaneously develop colon cancers.

So far, the researchers know that the receptor could be blocked through a process known as methylation, at least in the case of human colon cancer cells. This is achieved through the alteration of the DNA code with the help of a small group of chemical compounds that can be removed by making use of a demethylating drug known as decitibine.

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