Researchers Identify a Simple Method for Cancer Prevention

Scientists from the University of Illinois (USA) have discovered that compounds from the endocannabinoid group, which are formed in the body during the metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids, can inhibit the growth and spread of cancer. This finding was reported in a press release on MedicalXpress.

In 2017, researchers identified a new group of metabolites called endocannabinoid epoxides (EDP-EA). These molecules, which have anti-inflammatory properties, act as ligands for receptors that also bind to THC. While THC is known for its anti-cancer properties, endocannabinoids do not produce any psychoactive effects, unlike THC.

The scientists demonstrated that in mice suffering from osteosarcoma with lung metastases, the level of EDP-EA was 80 percent higher than in the lungs of healthy rodents. These compounds were able to kill cancer cells, although not as effectively as chemotherapy drugs. However, they also inhibited the development and growth of tumors, for example, by slowing down angiogenesis—the process of forming new blood vessels associated with malignant tissues. EDP-EA also suppressed the migration of defective cells, stopping the formation of metastases.

According to the researchers, consuming omega-3 fatty acids increases the amount of endocannabinoids in the body, which reduces the risk of developing cancerous tumors. Additionally, EDP-EA derivatives could become the basis for new combined chemotherapy drugs.