Scientists at a British university have made a major breakthrough in revealing how cannabis could be used as a treatment to prevent the growth of cancer.

Research carried out by a team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) has shed light on the still “poorly understood” theory that an ingredient in marijuana has anti-cancer properties.

There have long been reports that the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC – has been shown to have success in combatting the growth of cancerous cells, but Cancer Research UK says we need more research before we will know whether the substance can really help treating the disease.

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By injecting THC into laboratory mice bearing human cancer cells, scientists were able to identify for the first time two specific receptors that are responsible for the compound’s disease-fighting effects.

The new study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, could be a big boost for attempts to create a synthetic substitute for cannabis that can fight cancer in a targeted and safe way.

Dr Peter McCormick, from UEA’s school of pharmacy, said: “Our findings help explain some of the well-known but still poorly understood effects of THC at low and high doses on tumour growth.

“There has been a great deal of interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind how marijuana, and specifically THC, influence cancer pathology.

“By identifying the receptors involved we have provided an important step towards the future development of therapeutics that can take advantage of the interactions we have discovered to reduce tumour growth.”

Shape Created with Sketch. First legal cannabis sales in Washington Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. First legal cannabis sales in Washington 1/10 Washington's cannabis stores Kevin Nelson, of Bellingham, Wash., holds a sign that reads "Drug War Ends Here," outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash. on the first day of legal pot sales in the state. Nelson says he is a long-time activist opposing drug laws, particularly those targeting marijuana users, and he he feels the legalization of marijuana will lead to less crowded jails and be less of a burden on the court system. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 2/10 Washington's cannabis stores A pamphlet titled "Marijuana Use in Washington State," is displayed at the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana when legal sales begin on Tuesday, 8 July, 2014. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 3/10 Washington's cannabis stores Customers shop for marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis, a retail marijuana store. Top Shelf Cannabis was the first retail marijuana store to open today in Washington state, nearly a year and a half after the state's voters chose to legalize marijuana. David Ryder/Getty Images 4/10 Washington's cannabis stores Cale Holdsworth, in town from Kansas to visit family, celebrates after purchasing two grams of marijuana strain "OG's Pearl" for $26.50 at Top Shelf Cannabis, a retail marijuana store David Ryder/Getty Images 5/10 Washington's cannabis stores A sign noting the Washington state law that prohibits opening packages that contain marijuana or marijuana-infused products in public rests on a glass case displaying bongs for sale at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 6/10 Washington's cannabis stores Brian Travino, a student at Western Washington University wears a Washington state flag, as he waits with other customers to purchase recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash., in the first half-hour of legal sales in the state. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 7/10 Washington's cannabis stores Amber McGowan, left, and Krystal Klacsan, right, work at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle to apply a state-mandated frosted film to the front of a display case that will contain pot varieties when legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana on Tuesday. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 8/10 Washington's cannabis stores A customer, who declined to give his name, sniffs a strain of recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., during the first half-hour of legal sales in the states. Customers cannot be given samples, but are allowed to use "sniff jars" to help make their purchasing decisions. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 9/10 Washington's cannabis stores Julian Rodriguez, right, of Everson, Wash., holds his two-gram packet of recreational marijuana outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., on the first day of legal sales. At left is Tom Beckley, the owner of the store. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 10/10 Washington's cannabis stores The price of two grams of a strain of marijuana named "Sweet Lafayette," is displayed at Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., on the first day of legal sales of recreational marijuana in the state AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 1/10 Washington's cannabis stores Kevin Nelson, of Bellingham, Wash., holds a sign that reads "Drug War Ends Here," outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash. on the first day of legal pot sales in the state. Nelson says he is a long-time activist opposing drug laws, particularly those targeting marijuana users, and he he feels the legalization of marijuana will lead to less crowded jails and be less of a burden on the court system. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 2/10 Washington's cannabis stores A pamphlet titled "Marijuana Use in Washington State," is displayed at the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana when legal sales begin on Tuesday, 8 July, 2014. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 3/10 Washington's cannabis stores Customers shop for marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis, a retail marijuana store. Top Shelf Cannabis was the first retail marijuana store to open today in Washington state, nearly a year and a half after the state's voters chose to legalize marijuana. David Ryder/Getty Images 4/10 Washington's cannabis stores Cale Holdsworth, in town from Kansas to visit family, celebrates after purchasing two grams of marijuana strain "OG's Pearl" for $26.50 at Top Shelf Cannabis, a retail marijuana store David Ryder/Getty Images 5/10 Washington's cannabis stores A sign noting the Washington state law that prohibits opening packages that contain marijuana or marijuana-infused products in public rests on a glass case displaying bongs for sale at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 6/10 Washington's cannabis stores Brian Travino, a student at Western Washington University wears a Washington state flag, as he waits with other customers to purchase recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash., in the first half-hour of legal sales in the state. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 7/10 Washington's cannabis stores Amber McGowan, left, and Krystal Klacsan, right, work at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle to apply a state-mandated frosted film to the front of a display case that will contain pot varieties when legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana on Tuesday. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 8/10 Washington's cannabis stores A customer, who declined to give his name, sniffs a strain of recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., during the first half-hour of legal sales in the states. Customers cannot be given samples, but are allowed to use "sniff jars" to help make their purchasing decisions. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 9/10 Washington's cannabis stores Julian Rodriguez, right, of Everson, Wash., holds his two-gram packet of recreational marijuana outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., on the first day of legal sales. At left is Tom Beckley, the owner of the store. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren 10/10 Washington's cannabis stores The price of two grams of a strain of marijuana named "Sweet Lafayette," is displayed at Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., on the first day of legal sales of recreational marijuana in the state AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Dr McCormick nonetheless insisted that studies like this should not encourage cancer patients to self-medicate.

He said: “Our research uses an isolated chemical compound and using the correct concentration is vital. Cancer patients should not use cannabis to self-medicate, but I hope that our research will lead to a safe synthetic equivalent being available in the future.”