Medical marijuana for cancer.

Posted on January 17, 2015 by David

“Marijuana has been used for centuries, and interest in its medicinal properties has been increasing in recent years. Investigations into these medicinal properties has led to the development of cannabinoid pharmaceuticals such as dronabinol, nabilone, and nabiximols.

Dronabinol is best studied in the treatment of nausea secondary to cancer chemotherapy and anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for those indications.

Nabilone has been best studied for the treatment of nausea secondary to cancer chemotherapy. There are also limited studies of these drugs for other conditions.

Nabiximols is only available in the United States through clinical trials, but is used in Canada and the United Kingdom for the treatment of spasticity secondary to multiple sclerosis and pain.

Studies of marijuana have concentrated on nausea, appetite, and pain.

This article will review the literature regarding the medical use of marijuana and these cannabinoid pharmaceuticals (with emphasis on indications relevant to oncology)”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25503438

“Both cannabis and cannabinoid pharmaceuticals can be helpful for a number of problems, including many affecting patients with cancer… given the limitations inherent in using oral medications to treat nausea and vomiting, inhalation of marijuana or a cannabinoid may be better than oral ingestion in treating this condition.” http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21260/full

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/cancer/

Regulation of circulating endocannabinoids associated with cancer and metastases in mice and humans.

Posted on January 17, 2015 by David

“Endocannabinoids may modify cancer development, progression and associated pain.

We determined whether cancer-evoked dysregulations in this system become manifest in altered tissue and plasma endocannabinoids…

The endocannabinoid system was subject to cancer-associated regulations to an extent that led to measurable changes in circulating endocannabinoid levels, emphasizing the importance of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology of cancer.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25594019

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/cancer/

The antitumor action of cannabinoids on glioma tumorigenesis.

Posted on December 5, 2014 by David

“Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds with a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects, mediated by two specific plasma membrane receptors (CB1 and CB2).

Recently, CB1 and CB2 expression levels have been detected in human tumors, including those of brain.

Cannabinoids-endocannabinoids exert anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects in different cancer types, both in vitro and in vivo in animal models, after local or systemic administration.

We present the available experimental and clinical data, to date, regarding the antitumor action of cannabinoids on the tumorigenesis of gliomas.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25472761

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/gllomas/

The Combination of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Enhances the Anticancer Effects of Radiation in an Orthotopic Murine Glioma Model.

Posted on November 16, 2014 by David

“High-grade glioma is one of the most aggressive cancers in adult humans and long-term survival rates are very low as standard treatments for glioma remain largely unsuccessful.

Cannabinoids have been shown to specifically inhibit glioma growth as well as neutralize oncogenic processes such as angiogenesis.

In an attempt to improve treatment outcome, we have investigated the effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) both alone and in combination with radiotherapy in a number of glioma cell lines (T98G, U87MG, and GL261).

Cannabinoids were used in two forms, pure (P) and as a botanical drug substance (BDS).

Results demonstrated a duration- and dose-dependent reduction in cell viability with each cannabinoid and suggested that THC-BDS was more efficacious than THC-P, whereas, conversely, CBD-P was more efficacious than CBD-BDS.

…increase in radiosensitivity was associated with an increase in markers of autophagy and apoptosis.

These in vitro results were recapitulated in an orthotopic murine model for glioma, which showed dramatic reductions in tumor volumes when both cannabinoids were used with irradiation.

Taken together, our data highlight the possibility that these cannabinoids can prime glioma cells to respond better to ionizing radiation, and suggest a potential clinical benefit for glioma patients by using these two treatment modalities.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25398831

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/gllomas/

Antitumor activity of cannabigerol against human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells.

Posted on October 5, 2014 by David

“Boron trifluoride etherate on silica-A modified Lewis acid reagent (VII). Antitumor activity of cannabigerol against human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells.

Baek SH1, Kim YO, Kwag JS, Choi KE, Jung WY, Han DS.

Author information

Abstract

Geraniol (1), olivetol (2), cannabinoids (3 and 4) and 5-fluorouracil (5) were tested for their growth inhibitory effects against human oral epitheloid carcinoma cell lines (KB) and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts using two different 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and sulforhodamine B protein (SRB) assay.

Cannabigerol (3) exhibited the highest growth-inhibitory activity against the cancer cell lines.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9875457

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/cancer/

Cannabis oil stopped my cancer says Lake Macquarie’s Susannah Patch

Posted on October 3, 2014 by David

“A LAKE Macquarie woman whose ‘‘aggressive’’ breast cancer spread to various parts of her body including her spine and lungs credits her remarkable recovery to cannabis oil.

Awaba woman Susannah Patch, 44, is one of a growing number of Hunter people who have treated themselves using an underground network of cannabis oil suppliers.

Although she had surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Ms Patch says most of her improvement has come since stopping chemotherapy against the advice of the cancer specialists and continuing with cannabis oil…

‘It is a distinct possibility that the cannabinoids may have ‘‘a place in the future treatment of cancer,’’

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2587931/cannabis-oil-stopped-my-cancer/?cs=12

“It’s breast cancer awareness month. Please, BE AWARE:” http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/its-breast-cancer-awareness-month-please-be-aware/

“A laboratory study of cannabidiol in estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells showed that it caused cancer cell death while having little effect on normal breast cells.” http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page2

“Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells… In summary, we showed that CBD, a plant-derived cannabinoid, preferentially kills breast cancer cells…” http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/10/7/1161.full

“Cannabidiol, a safe and non-psychotropic ingredient of the marijuana plant Cannabis sativa,” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19690824

“Cannabidiol (CBD) Shown To Kill Breast Cancer Cells” http://www.cafemom.com/group/99198/forums/read/19190923/Cannabidiol_CBD_Shown_To_Kill_Breast_Cancer_Cells

“Here, we show that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), reduces human breast cancer cell proliferation by blocking the progression of the cell cycle and by inducing apoptosis.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16818634

“Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis)” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26873/

“Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells…”
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page1

“…cannabinoids may be able to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells… A laboratory study of delta-9-THC… showed that it damaged or killed the cancer cells… A laboratory study of cannabidiol… showed that it caused cancer cell death…” http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page2

“Cannabinoids appear to kill tumor cells but do not effect their nontransformed counterparts and may even protect them from cell death.” http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4

“Cannabis oil stopped my cancer says Lake Macquarie’s Susannah Patch” http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2587931/cannabis-oil-stopped-my-cancer/?cs=12

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/breast-cancer/

Colon carcinogenesis is inhibited by the TRPM8 antagonist cannabigerol, a Cannabis-derived non-psychotropic cannabinoid.

Posted on October 2, 2014 by David

“Cannabigerol (CBG) is a safe non-psychotropic Cannabis-derived cannabinoid which interacts with specific targets involved in carcinogenesis…

Here, we investigated whether CBG protects against colon tumorigenesis.

In vivo, CBG inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors as well as chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis.

CBG hampers colon cancer progression in vivo and selectively inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer cells, an effect shared by other TRPM8 antagonists.

CBG should be considered translationally in colorectal cancer prevention and cure.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25269802

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/colon-cancer/

Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol targeting estrogen receptor signaling: the possible mechanism of action coupled with endocrine disruption.

Posted on September 30, 2014 by David

“Δ(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC), a biologically active constituent of marijuana, possesses a wide variety of pharmacological and toxicological effects (e.g., analgesia, hypotension, reduction of inflammation, and anti-cancer effects).

Among Δ(9)-THC’s biological activities, its recognized anti-estrogenic activity has been the subject of investigations.

… Δ(9)-THC is used as both a drug of abuse (marijuana) and as a preventive therapeutic to treat pain and nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy…

…important to investigate the mechanistic basis underlying the anti-estrogenic activity of Δ(9)-THC…

We have recently reported that ERβ, a second type of ER, is involved in the Δ(9)-THC abrogation of E2/ERα-mediated transcriptional activity. Here we discuss the possible mechanism(s) of the Δ(9)-THC-mediated disruption of E2/ERα signaling by presenting our recent findings as well.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25177025

Cannabinoids as therapeutic agents in cancer: current status and future implications

Posted on August 15, 2014 by David

“Cannabinoids… active compounds of the Cannabis sativa plant… cannabinoids are clinically used for anti-palliative effects, recent studies open a promising possibility as anti-cancer agents.

They have been shown to possess anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects in vitro as well as in vivo in different cancer models…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25115386

“Cannabinoids… the active compounds of the Cannabis sativa plant… anti-cancer agents… anti-proliferative… anti-angiogenic… anti-migratory and anti-invasive… The administration of single cannabinoids might produce limited relief compared to the administration of crude extract of plant containing multiple cannabinoids, terpenes and flavanoids.” Full-text: http://www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B0%5D=2233&path%5B1%5D=3664

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/cancer/

CANNABINOIDS INCREASE LUNG CANCER CELL LYSIS BY LYMPHOKINE-ACTIVATED KILLER CELLS VIA UPREGULATION OF ICAM-1.

Posted on July 30, 2014 by David

“Cannabinoids have been shown to promote the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on lung cancer cells as part of their anti-invasive and antimetastatic action…

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, enhanced the susceptibility of cancer cells to adhere to and subsequently lysed by LAK cells, with both effects being reversed by a neutralizing ICAM-1 antibody…

ICAM-1-dependent pro-killing effects were further confirmed for the phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and R(+)-methanandamide, a stable endocannabinoid analogue…

Altogether, our data demonstrate cannabinoid-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 on lung cancer cells to be responsible for increased cancer cell susceptibility to LAK cell-mediated cytolysis.

These findings provide proof for a novel antitumorigenic mechanism of cannabinoids.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25069049

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/lung-cancer/