3. Umbruch 4.4..2005 - Online Pot

176 L. De Petrocellis et al.
phine tolerance) than those obtained with each agonist alone [110, 111]. (4)
Finally, studies in animals have shown that cannabinoids or agents that enhance
the endogenous levels of endocannabinoids exert anti-anxiolytic effects [112,
113] and mediate the extinction of aversive memories [114], with potential beneficial
psychological effects on cancer patients.
In conclusion, the use of cannabinoid receptor agonists and/or substances
inhibiting endocannabinoid degradation might not only retard the growth of
tumors via multiple mechanisms, but also alleviate simultaneously the weight
loss, nausea and pain that so badly affect the life of women and men suffering
from cancer. As multiple and different approaches are more and more likely to
solve successfully the issue of cancer treatment, one can only hope that the further
pre-clinical and clinical research that is certainly needed to substantiate
this hypothesis will provide ever more encouraging results in this direction.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro and GW Pharmaceuticals, UK,
for supporting their studies on this subject.
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