Marijuana’s Active Ingredient Targets Deadly Brain Cancer – WebMD

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David

“If results of a recent rat study hold true in human trials, marijuana could be the treatment of choice for patients with malignant glioma — an especially aggressive and often fatal form of brain cancer.

No, rats haven’t started smoking pot. But when researchers injected tumorous animals with cannabinoids — the drug’s active ingredient — about a third of them went into remission, and another third lived significantly longer than untreated rats.

The findings appear in the March issue of the journal Nature Medicine…

According to lead researcher Manuel Guzmán, PhD, his team’s previous studies showed that cannabinoids could stop growth and kill cancer cells but did not harm normal cells. The current work examined the action behind this effect and whether it would also work in living animals…

The researchers first caused tumors in the brains of 18 rats. They then injected the animals over the course of seven days with either a natural or artificial cannabinoid, or a placebo for comparison. Additional groups of healthy, tumor-free rats also received the various treatments…

All of the untreated animals with tumors died between days 12 and 18, but those treated with the cannabinoids lived much longer, and had significantly smaller tumors…

There were no negative side effects at all in the healthy animals receiving treatment.”

More:http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20000228/marijuanas-active-ingredient-targets-deadly-brain-cancer

“Anti-tumoral action of cannabinoids: Involvement of sustained ceramide accumulation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation” http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v6/n3/abs/nm0300_313.html

Marijuana May Stall Brain Tumor Growth – WebMD

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David

“Active Ingredient in Marijuana Inhibits Cancer Growth in Early Study.

The active ingredient in marijuana may help fight brain tumors, a new study suggests.

Researchers say the cannabinoids found in marijuana may aid in brain tumor treatment by targeting the genes needed for the tumors to sprout blood vessels and grow.

Their study showed that cannabinoids inhibited genes needed for the production of vascular growth factor (VEGF) in laboratory mice with glioma brain tumors and two patients with late-stage glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer.

VEGF is a protein that stimulates blood vessels to grow. Tumors need an abundant blood supply because they generally grow rapidly. So when VEGF is blocked, tumors starve from lack of blood supply and nutrients.

Blocking of VEGF constitutes one of the most promising tumor-fighting approaches currently available, says researcher Manuel Guzman, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, at the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, in a news release.”

More:http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20040815/marijuana-stall-brain-tumor-growth

“Cannabinoids Inhibit the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gliomas”: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/64/16/5617.long

Pot Slows Cancer in Test Tube – WebMD

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David

“THC and another marijuana-derived compound slow the spread of cervical and lung cancers, test-tube studies suggest.

The new findings add to the fast-growing number of animal and cell-culture studies showing different anticancer effects for cannabinoids, chemical compounds derived from marijuana.

Cannabinoids, and sometimes marijuana itself, are currently used to lessen the nausea and pain experienced by many cancer patients. The new findings — suggest that cannabinoids may have a direct anticancer effect.

“Cannabinoids’ … potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of highly invasive cancers should be addressed in clinical trials,” conclude Robert Ramer, PhD, and Burkhard Hinz, PhD, of the University of Rostock, Germany…

Doses of THC that reduce pain in cancer patients yield blood concentrations much higher than the concentrations needed to inhibit cancer invasion.

“Thus the effects of THC on cell invasion occurred at therapeutically relevant concentrations,” Ramer and Hinz note…

Ramer and Hinz report the findings in the Jan. 2, 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.”

More: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20071226/pot-slows-cancer-in-test-tube

“Inhibition of Cancer Cell Invasion by Cannabinoids via Increased Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases-1”: http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/100/1/59.long

Marijuana Inhibits Tumors

Link between obesity and cancer – Science

Posted on September 13, 2013 by David

“Link between obesity and cancer” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670342/

“Biological mechanisms linking obesity and cancer risk: new perspectives.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19824817

“Overweight/obesity and cancer genesis: more than a biological link.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18035514

“The Obesity-Cancer Link: Lessons Learned from a Fatless Mouse” http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/67/6/2391.long

“Epidemiology and pathophysiology of obesity as cause of cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17299670

“Obesity and cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19924603

“Obesity and cancer: pathophysiological and biological mechanisms.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18465361

“Obesity and cancer risk: evidence, mechanisms, and recommendations” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3476838/

“The growing challenge of obesity and cancer: an inflammatory issue.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21793838

“Growth Signals, Inflammation, and Vascular Perturbations, Mechanistic Links Between Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cancer” http://atvb.ahajournals.org/content/32/8/1766.long

“Obesity, metabolic dysregulation, and cancer: a growing concern and an inflammatory (and microenvironmental) issue” http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06737.x/full

“Obesity-induced gut microbial metabolite promotes liver cancer through senescence secretome.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23803760

“Overweight, obesity and cancer: epidemiological evidence and proposed mechanisms” http://www.nature.com/nrc/journal/v4/n8/full/nrc1408.html

“Overweight and obesity: a review of their relationship to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in South America.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23452284

“Cytokines, obesity, and cancer: new insights on mechanisms linking obesity to cancer risk and progression.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23121183

“Obesity-driven inflammation and cancer risk: role of myeloid derived suppressor cells and alternately activated macrophages” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3555202/

“Inflammation, autophagy, and obesity: common features in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23622129

“Obesity, energy balance, and cancer: new opportunities for prevention.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23034147

“Obesity and colorectal cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23481261

“Obesity and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis of 31 Studies with 70,000 Events” http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/16/12/2533.long

“Obesity and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3547959/

“Central obesity and breast cancer risk: a systematic review.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12916817

“Role of Obesity in the Risk of Breast Cancer: Lessons from Anthropometry” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575614/

“The molecular contribution of TNF-α in the link between obesity and breast cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21165572

“Subcellular Localization of Cyclic AMP-Responsive Element Binding Protein-Regulated Transcription Coactivator 2 Provides a Link between Obesity and Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women” http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/69/13/5392.long

“An IL-6 link between obesity and cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23277002

“Expression of microRNAs: potential molecular link between obesity, diabetes and cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21767342

“Excess body weight and obesity–the link with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21386810

“Obesity and gastrointestinal cancer.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20306531

“The link between obesity and prostate cancer: the leptin pathway and therapeutic perspectives.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16344847

“The relationship between obesity and prostate cancer: from genetics to disease treatment and prevention” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3523022/

“Reducing the weight of cancer: mechanistic targets for breaking the obesity-carcinogenesis link.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18971125

“Overweight, obesity, and cancer risk.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12217794

“Obesity and cancer: the risks, science, and potential management strategies.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16053036

“Overweight as an avoidable cause of cancer in Europe.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11169969

“Obesity management–an opportunity for cancer prevention.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19848061

Study Links Obesity, Cancer – News

Posted on September 13, 2013 by David

“Study Links Obesity, Cancer” http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3438650n

“‘Direct link’ between cancer and obesity” http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/direct-link-between-cancer-and-obesity-398386.html

“Obesity link to cancer” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1334311.stm

“Study supports link between obesity and higher incidence of cancer, poorer prognosis” http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-link-obesity-higher-incidence-cancer.html

“Obesity-Cancer Link Detailed” http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36204/title/Obesity-Cancer-Link-Detailed/

“Obesity Linked to Many Cancer Cases in U.S.” http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20091105/obesity-linked-to-many-cancer-cases-in-us

“Increased obesity means increased cancer cases” http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/05/increased-obesity-means-increased-cancer-cases/

“Obesity responsible for 100,000 cancer cases annually” http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/05/obesity.cancer.link/

“Obesity is now the leading cause of cancer” http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/obesity-leading-cancer-article-1.403496

“Obesity as a Cause of Endometrial Cancer: Gynecologic Oncologists to Add Perspective on New Report” http://www.newswise.com/articles/obesity-as-a-cause-of-endometrial-cancer-gynecologic-oncologists-to-add-perspective-on-new-report

“Obesity Helps Spur Cancer’s Growth, Mouse Study Suggests” http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/cancer/obesity-helps-spur-cancers-growth-mouse-study-suggests

“Obesity makes cancer harder to treat – researchers” http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9167668

“Childhood Obesity linked to Colorectal Cancer” http://www.hivehealthmedia.com/childhood-obesity-linked-colorectal-cancer/

“Childhood obesity linked to bladder, urinary cancer” http://india.nydailynews.com/business/007bed187246683db27f00329afb7e2a/childhood-obesity-linked-to-bladder-urinary-cancer

“Study links childhood obesity to cancer in adults” http://www.jpost.com/Health-and-Science/Study-links-childhood-obesity-to-cancer-in-adults

“Weight Gain and Obesity Linked with Endometrial Cancer Risk” http://news.yale.edu/2011/03/16/weight-gain-and-obesity-linked-endometrial-cancer-risk

“Athlone scientist reveals link between obesity and oesophageal cancer” http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/07/03/4016553-athlone-scientist-reveals-link-between-obesity-and-oesophageal-cancer/

“Scientists uncover key mechanism that links obesity and diabetes with cancer” http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130201/Scientists-uncover-key-mechanism-that-links-obesity-and-diabetes-with-cancer.aspx

“Obesity Gene Linked To Skin Cancer” http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257159.php

“Obesity linked to liver cancer, gallbladder cancer” http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Disease/obesity_liver_cancer_gallbladder_cancer_0917120712.html

“Obesity linked to womb cancer rise” http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/public-health/obesity-linked-to-womb-cancer-rise/5017506.article

“Obesity Linked to Ovarian Cancer” http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=6581157&page=1

“Obesity genes linked to uterine cancer” http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/01/obesity-uterine-cancer/

“Obesity Linked to Ovarian Cancer” http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-01-05/news/36784799_1_ovarian-cancer-obese-women-normal-weight-women

“Obesity Linked to More Advanced and More Aggressive Thyroid Cancer” http://www.familypracticenews.com/news/more-top-news/single-view/obesity-linked-to-more-advanced-and-more-aggressive-thyroid-cancer/30971304ec4a03ee4ce8abd728da736c.html

“Obesity Linked to Higher Risk for Aggressive Thyroid Cancer” http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/764234

“Pancreatic cancer and obesity linked” http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/06/pancreatic-cancer-and-obesity-linked.html

“Obesity linked to rise in kidney cancer” http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/news/archive/pressrelease/2002-09-21-obesity-linked-to-rise-in-kidney-cancer

“Obesity fuels record rise in kidney cancers” http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/03march/Pages/Obesity-fuels-kidney-cancer-rise.aspx

“Obesity Linked to Prostate Cancer, Study Finds” http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20130423/obesity-linked-to-prostate-cancer-study-finds

“Obesity Raises Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer” http://www.renalandurologynews.com/obesity-raises-risk-of-aggressive-prostate-cancer/article/202883/#

“Obesity increases men’s risk of dying from prostate cancer” http://www.nbcnews.com/health/obesity-increases-mens-risk-dying-prostate-cancer-6C9566874

“Researchers discover link between obesity gene and breast cancer” http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-link-obesity-gene-breast-cancer.html

“Breast Cancer Linked to Obesity Gene, New Research Suggests” http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110523124402.htm

“Research Piles Up on Links Between Cancer and Obesity” http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/06/23/research-piles-up-on-links-between-cancer-and-obesity/

Towards a better Cannabis drug.

Posted on September 13, 2013 by David

“Opium smoking has been mostly replaced by i.v. injection of morphine and heroin and we see cocaine sniffing rather than chewing of coca leaves. Cannabis use – be it of marijuana, hashish or bhang – differs.

Any cannabis cognoscente will insist that the crude material is ‘much better’ than pure Δ⁹ – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the only major psychoactive constituent of cannabis (Mechoulam et al., 1970).

Indeed, although pure THC is available as a drug (named Dronabinol) it is apparently not used illicitly.

The pharmacological/biochemical basis for this difference is not clear and is presumably due to several factors. A major reason seems to be the pharmacokinetic difference between cannabis smoking and the oral administration of THC.

On smoking, the cannabis effects are noted almost immediately, while a 1.5 – 2 hour delay is observed on oral administration.

A further factor may be conditioning to the smell, although there are no published data along these lines. A further factor may be the presence of the terpenoid CB2 agonist beta-caryophyllene in cannabis (Gertsch et al., 2008).

CB2 agonists are well known to cause numerous effects (mostly of a protective nature) which may counteract some of the effects of THC (Pacher & Mechoulam, 2011).”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24024867

Cannabis may provide novel ‘cure’ for prostate cancers

Posted on September 9, 2013 by David

“Cannabis, Indian Hemp or rather marijuana may provide the novel treatment for prostate cancer by acting as analgesia on bone pain, improving quality of life, while reducing narcotic consumption and preventing opioid dependence.”

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/features/natural-health/131865-cannabis-may-provide-novel-cure-for-prostate-cancers

Cannabinoid receptors give cells the tools they need to defend against HIV infection

Posted on September 9, 2013 by David

“Researchers have reported that when healthy cells were placed in a sample dish with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), along with a dose of cannabinoids, the cells, which normally would rather quickly become infected, simply denied entry to the virus, and responded as if it were not a threat at all…

HIV isn’t special – cannabinoids don’t like any viruses

The stimulation of the receptors wasn’t just detrimental to the AIDS virus, it increased the cells abilities to defend itself against any number of viruses and bacteria…”

More: http://www.naturalnews.com/035656_cannabinoids_HIV_marijuana.html

Cannabis exposure associated with weight reduction and β-cell protection in an obese rat model.

Posted on September 9, 2013 by David

“The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an organic cannabis extract on β-cell secretory function in an in vivo diet-induced obese rat model and determine the associated molecular changes within pancreatic tissue…

These results suggest that the cannabis extract protects pancreatic islets against the negative effects of obesity.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22421529

Therapeutic potential of cannabinoid medicines.

Posted on September 6, 2013 by David

Drug Testing and Analysis

“Cannabis was extensively used as a medicine throughout the developed world in the nineteenth century but went into decline early in the twentieth century ahead of its emergence as the most widely used illicit recreational drug later that century. Recent advances in cannabinoid pharmacology alongside the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) have re-ignited interest in cannabis-based medicines.

The ECS has emerged as an important physiological system and plausible target for new medicines. Its receptors and endogenous ligands play a vital modulatory role in diverse functions including immune response, food intake, cognition, emotion, perception, behavioural reinforcement, motor co-ordination, body temperature, wake/sleep cycle, bone formation and resorption, and various aspects of hormonal control. In disease it may act as part of the physiological response or as a component of the underlying pathology.

In the forefront of clinical research are the cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, and their contrasting pharmacology will be briefly outlined. The therapeutic potential and possible risks of drugs that inhibit the ECS will also be considered. This paper will then go on to review clinical research exploring the potential of cannabinoid medicines in the following indications: symptomatic relief in multiple sclerosis, chronic neuropathic pain, intractable nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and weight in the context of cancer or AIDS, psychosis, epilepsy, addiction, and metabolic disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24006213

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.1529/abstract