Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Marijuana Fights Cancer and Helps Manage Side Effects, Researchers Find
Newsweek/The Daily Beast ^ | Sep 6, 2012 | Martin A. Lee

Posted on 09/08/2012 12:51:31 PM PDT by neverdem

Cristina Sanchez, a young biologist at Complutense University in Madrid, was studying cell metabolism when she noticed something peculiar. She had been screening brain cancer cells because they grow faster than normal cell lines and thus are useful for research purposes. But the cancer cells died each time they were exposed to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive ingredient of marijuana.

Instead of gaining insight into how cells function, Sanchez had stumbled upon the anti-cancer properties of THC. In 1998, she reported in a European biochemistry journal that THC “induces apoptosis [cell death] in C6 glioma cells,” an aggressive form of brain cancer. 

Subsequent peer-reviewed studies in several countries would show that THC and other marijuana-derived compounds, known as “cannabinoids,” are effective not only for cancer-symptom management (nausea, pain, loss of appetite, fatigue), they also confer a direct antitumoral effect

A team of Spanish scientists led by Manuel Guzman conducted the first clinical trial assessing the antitumoral action of THC on human beings. Guzman administered pure THC via a catheter into the tumors of nine hospitalized patients with glioblastoma, who had failed to respond to standard brain-cancer therapies. The results were published in 2006 in the British Journal of Pharmacology: THC treatment was associated with significantly reduced tumor cell proliferation in every test subject

Around the same time, Harvard University scientists ++reported++[ http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v95/n2/abs/6603236a.html] that THC slows tumor growth in common lung cancer and “significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread.” What’s more, like a heat-seeking missile, THC selectively targets and destroys tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed. Conventional chemotherapy drugs, by contrast, are highly toxic; they indiscriminately damage the brain and body.

Medical Marijuana Crackdown

Aric Crabb, Bay Area News Group / AP Photos

There is mounting evidence, according to a report in Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, that cannabinoids “represent a new class of anticancer drugs that retard cancer growth, inhibit angiogenesis [the formation of new blood cells that feed a tumor] and the metastatic spreading of cancer cells.”

Dr. Sean McAllister, a scientist at the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, has been studying cannabinoid compounds for 10 years in a quest to develop new therapeutic interventions for various cancers. Backed by grants from the National Institute of Health (and with a license from the DEA), McAllister discovered that cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive component of the marijuana plant, is a potent inhibitor of breast cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and tumor growth. 

In 2007, McAllister published a detailed account of how cannabidiol kills breast cancer cells and destroys malignant tumors by switching off expression of the ID-1 gene, a protein that appears to play a major role as a cancer cell conductor.   

The ID-1 gene is active during human embryonic development, after which it turns off and stays off. But in breast cancer and several other types of metastatic cancer, the ID-1 gene becomes active again, causing malignant cells to invade and metastasize. “Dozens of aggressive cancers express this gene,” explains McAllister. He postulates that CBD, by virtue of its ability to silence ID-1 expression, could be a breakthrough anti-cancer medication.

“Cannabidiol offers hope of a non-toxic therapy that could treat aggressive forms of cancer without any of the painful side effects of chemotherapy,” says McAllister, who is seeking support to conduct clinical trials with the marijuana compound on breast cancer patients.

McAllister’s lab also is analyzing how CBD works in combination with first-line chemotherapy agents. His research shows that cannabidiol, a potent antitumoral compound in its own right, acts synergistically with various anti-cancer pharmaceuticals, enhancing their impact while cutting the toxic dosage necessary for maximum effect.

cancer-cells-marijuana-lee

Breast cancer cells killed by CBD on right compared to untreated breast cancer cells on left. (Courtesy Pacific Medical Center)

“Cannabidiol offers hope of a non-toxic therapy that could treat aggressive forms of cancer without any of the painful side effects of chemotherapy.

Investigators at St. George’s University in London observed a similar pattern with THC, which magnified the effectiveness of conventional antileukemia therapies in preclinical studies. THC and cannabidiol both induce apoptosis in leukemic cell lines.

At the annual summer conference of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, held this year in Freiburg, Germany, 300 scientists from around the world discussed their latest findings, which are pointing the way toward novel treatment strategies for cancer and other degenerative diseases. Italian investigators described CBD as “the most efficacious inducer of apoptosis” in prostate cancer. Ditto for cannabidiol and colon cancer, according to British researchers at Lancaster University.

Within the medical science community, the discovery that cannabinoids have anti-tumoral properties is increasingly recognized as a seminal advancement in cancer therapeutics.

Martin A. Lee is the author of Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana – Medical, Recreational and Scientific (Scribner, August 2012). He is the cofounder of the media watch group FAIR, director of Project CBD, and the author of Acid Dreams and The Beast Reawakens. For more information and regular updates, follow Smoke Signals—the book on Facebook.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Testing
KEYWORDS: cancer; cannabis; drugs; drugwar; marijuana; medicalmarijuana; medicine; medpot; warondrugs; wod; wodlist; wosd
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-180 next last
To: TigersEye

that is just an excuse, pills can be adjusted into other forms.

for potheads from rio linda “Dave’s not here maaaaaan.”


21 posted on 09/08/2012 1:49:44 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: vet7279

“Researchers also announced man is the cause of global warming, milk causes cancer and it takes a village to raise a child.... are we picking and choosing which researcher we believe?”

Yes we are, assuming we have the ability to read critically and apply our own experiences and those of people we know to what we read.


22 posted on 09/08/2012 1:49:53 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory
If this was a legit actual proven medical use there is no need for pothead stores with a pretext.

That is the same logic my sister gave me when I told her Bill Clinton was guilty of treason for giving China ballistic missile guidance and warhead technology.

"So, why wasn't he prosecuted?"

23 posted on 09/08/2012 1:49:57 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory

What other forms? FWIW I think MM is a bad joke for both the medical field and for those who want cannabis legalized.


24 posted on 09/08/2012 1:51:09 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Medical marijuana already exists. It’s called Marinol.

A pharmaceutical product, Marinol, is widely available through prescription. It comes in the form of a pill and is also being studied by researchers for suitability via other delivery methods, such as an inhaler or patch.

“Legalized” medical pot is dangerous. Smoking marijuana results in ingesting toxic and carcinogenic ingredients; smoked pot contains more than 400 different chemicals, including larger doses of the hazardous constituents found in tobacco smoke.


25 posted on 09/08/2012 1:52:36 PM PDT by olezip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory
If this was a legit actual proven medical use there is no need for pothead stores with a pretext. Doctors would perscribe it

Do not doctors prescribe it already?

26 posted on 09/08/2012 1:52:43 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

I knew a navy chief like that, but he lost his pension in one of those 1 in a thousand chances that pot people take, who cannot truly leave it for good, and must return to it periodically over their lives.


27 posted on 09/08/2012 1:53:12 PM PDT by ansel12 ( Aug. 27, 2012-Mitt Romney said his views on abortion are more lenient than the Republican Platform)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: olezip

I know a cancer patient/survivor and according to her she uses a vaporizer, where there is virtually no smoke and screens out much of that stuff.


28 posted on 09/08/2012 1:53:53 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: olezip
smoked pot contains more than 400 different chemicals, including larger doses of the hazardous constituents found in tobacco smoke.

I'm sure that's a big worry to someone dying of cancer or AIDS who is already on chemotherapy or radiation treatments, which by themselves might kill them.

29 posted on 09/08/2012 1:55:38 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory

“If this was a legit actual proven medical use there is no need for pothead stores with a pretext. Doctors would perscribe it and it would be purchased at the pharmacy. (and there would be automatic license suspensions for those thus perscribed)”

My wife’s transplant surgeon told me he wished it was legal so he could prescribe it for her nausea that plagues her constantly. They don’t “perscribe” drugs that aren’t legal whether there’s a proven medical use or not.


30 posted on 09/08/2012 1:57:28 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: olezip

Are you telling us that if we find something useful on frogs, that science will find it and put it into a precisely dosaged, safe form, rather than just let the frog heads sell us frogs to lick?


31 posted on 09/08/2012 1:57:37 PM PDT by ansel12 ( Aug. 27, 2012-Mitt Romney said his views on abortion are more lenient than the Republican Platform)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Which doesn’t prove a pot addiction anymore than someone who gets a DUI ticket proves that they are an alcoholic. Some people take risks and some don’t think about the risks they are taking.


32 posted on 09/08/2012 2:00:01 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: olezip

“Medical marijuana already exists. It’s called Marinol.”

No, it does not. My wife, a transplant patient, takes it in between bouts of nausea and it stimulates her appetite somewhat but does nothing for nausea - other than occasionally inducing it. Her transplant surgeon stated that he wished he could prescribe real marijuana for her.


33 posted on 09/08/2012 2:02:19 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Magic Fingers; longtermmemmory
They don’t “perscribe” drugs that aren’t legal whether there’s a proven medical use or not.

Not to mention that the FedMob prohibited research for several decades (now lifted) and the FDA (a FedMob agency) wouldn't even look at any products for approval. Or the fact that plants can't be patented so the whole plant will never be considered even with those laws removed.

34 posted on 09/08/2012 2:04:14 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: vet7279

What you do is evaluate the methodology and how experiment matches theory, in the case of MMGW you have a theory unsupported by empirical data, same with the sociology stuff. Dairy products and the Dept of Agriculture Food pyramid is certainly inferior to the PaleoDiet, in this case you have studies supported by empirical data.

Fundamentally different situation. It’s a science thing.

Government doesn’t have a right to regulate plants that are part of the ecosystem.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Genesis 1:29


35 posted on 09/08/2012 2:05:10 PM PDT by Leto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Are you telling us that doctors don’t recommend non-pharmaceutical aids to health such as drinking a glass of red wine per day for its cardiovascular benefits because only a regulated dosage of a “safe form” would be acceptable?


36 posted on 09/08/2012 2:07:02 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: tacticalogic

I know, I wasn’t kidding when I said that I have friends that have told me for 45 years that they are not addicited, yet during that almost half century I have seen them go to great lengths and risk for pot, that they would not even think to do normally.

They have put others at risk by carrying it, or seeking it when we have traveled, and the things and the people that their habit supports is the thing of nightmares, when we see 70 headless bodies discovered, or learn that traveling in our parks and forests, can be like traveling down a booby trapped trail in Vietnam.


37 posted on 09/08/2012 2:08:42 PM PDT by ansel12 ( Aug. 27, 2012-Mitt Romney said his views on abortion are more lenient than the Republican Platform)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

“Not to mention that the FedMob prohibited research for several decades (now lifted) and the FDA (a FedMob agency) wouldn’t even look at any products for approval. Or the fact that plants can’t be patented so the whole plant will never be considered even with those laws removed.”

Yep, it has nothing to do with ethics, morality, or public health (although they’re used as red herrings)....it’s only about the Benjamins.


38 posted on 09/08/2012 2:10:41 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: ansel12
They have put others at risk by carrying it, or seeking it when we have traveled,...It was your choice to travel with someone who did that so you're a risk taker too. I flat refuse to allow anyone to act like that in my presence no matter how long we have been friends. Decision making is the problem there not the use of pot.
39 posted on 09/08/2012 2:11:58 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

Leave it my foot...many addicted souls say that in denial. The fact is that most people need pot or some other drug to escape the real pain of a mislived life or cowardess in their lives. Real noble and happy people need no drugs at all because they have God’s joy inside them.
copingstrategiescd.org has that path....which also has led to a spiritual cure of cancer for many people.


40 posted on 09/08/2012 2:12:29 PM PDT by fabian (" And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, and the forests will echo with laughter"you min)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-180 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson