People with lung cancer often develop metastases in the brain, but why is this happening so often, was so far a mystery. American scientists were now able to show that nicotine promotes the spread of metastases in the brain. In addition, they have found a substance that may prevent.

Up to 40 percent of people with a certain type of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer develop brain metastases, and survive an average of less than six months. Researchers at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina have found through Trials in mice that nicotine certain brings immune cells in the brain to support the growth of the tumour, instead of protecting against it. It is also known that smokers suffering from lung cancer, about twice as often, brain tumors develop as non-Smoking.

Nicotine replacement products as an aid to Smoking cessation in people with lung cancer to keep the researchers on the basis of their discovery, however, is inappropriate. Study leader Dr. Kounosuke Watabe and his Team have embarked, therefore, on the search for drugs that reverse the effect of nicotine on the brain. They are pushed to Parthenolide, an active ingredient of feverfew, also known as False chamomile. So you were able to stop the Brain metastasis in mice.

Watabe keeps an application of Parthenolide in affected patients is quite promising, because the substance can be overcome, in contrast to other chemotherapeutic agents, the blood-brain barrier and so in the right place: "Currently, the radiation therapy is the only treatment for this devastating disease. Parthenolide could be suitable for the treatment, or possibly even as a means for the prevention of brain metastases."

ZOU