Study: Habitual Marijuana Smoking Not Associated With Increased Risk Of Lung Cancer

Posted on June 24, 2014 by David

“Subjects who regularly inhale cannabis smoke possess no greater risk of contracting lung cancer than do those who consume it occasionally or not at all, according to data published online ahead of print in the International Journal of Cancer.

An international team of investigators from Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States analyzed data from six case-control studies involving over 5,000 subjects (2,159 cases and 2,985 controls) from around the world.

Authors concluded, “Results from our pooled analyses provide little evidence for an increased risk of lung cancer among habitual or long-term cannabis smokers.””

http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/health-and-fitness/53910-study-habitual-marijuana-smoking-not-associated-with-increased-risk-of-lung-cancer.html

“Cannabis smoking and lung cancer risk: Pooled analysis in the International Lung Cancer Consortium” http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.29036/abstract

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

Overexpression of adenylate cyclase-associated protein 1 is associated with metastasis of lung cancer.

Posted on February 27, 2014 by David

“Lung cancer ranks first in both prevalence and mortality rates among all types of cancer. Metastasis is the main cause of treatment failure. Biomarkers are critical to early diagnosis and prediction and monitoring of progressive lesions…

The present study assessed the diagnostic and prognostic value of cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1) for lung cancer…

These findings suggest that overexpression of CAP1 in lung cancer cells, particularly at the metastatic stage, may have significant clinical implications as a diagnostic/prognostic factor for lung cancer.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23842884

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

Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer – ScienceDaily

Posted on July 27, 2013 by David

“People who smoke marijuana–even heavy, long-term marijuana users–do not appear to be at increased risk of developing lung cancer…

Marijuana smoking also did not appear to increase the risk of head and neck cancers, such as cancer of the tongue, mouth, throat, or esophagus, the study found.

The findings were a surprise to the researchers. “We expected that we would find that a history of heavy marijuana use–more than 500-1,000 uses–would increase the risk of cancer from several years to decades after exposure to marijuana,” said the senior researcher, Donald Tashkin, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles.”

More: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm

Delta–9 Tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits growth and metastasis of lung cancer – Harvard University

Posted on June 9, 2013 by David

“Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Many of these over-express epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), and are usually highly aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy.

Recent studies have shown that ${Delta}$ -9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),the major component of Cannabis sativa, possess anti-tumor propertiesagainst various types of cancers.

However, not much is knownabout its effect on lung cancer. In this study, we sought tocharacterize the effect of THC on EGF-induced growth and metastasisof human non small lung cancer cell (NSCLC) lines A549 and SW-1573.

We demonstrate that these cell lines and primary tumor samplesderived from lung cancer patients express cannabinoids receptorsCB₁ and CB₂, the known targets for THC action. We further showthat THC inhibits EGF-induced growth in these cell lines. Inaddition THC attenuated EGF-stimulated chemotaxis and chemoinvasion.Next we characterized the effect of THC on in vivo lung cancergrowth and metastasis in a murine model. A549 cells were implantedin SCID mice (n=6 per group) through subcutaneous and intravenousinjections to generate subcutaneous and lung metastatic cancer,respectively. THC (5mg/kg body wt.) was administered once dailythrough intraperitoneal injections for 21 days. The mice wereanalyzed for tumor growth and lung metastasis.

A significantreduction (~50%) in tumor weight and volume were observed inTHC treated animals compared to the vehicle treated animals.THC treated animals also showed a significant (~60%) reductionin macroscopic lesions on the lung surface in comparison tovehicle treated control. Immunohistochemical analysis of thetumor samples from THC treated animals revealed anti-proliferativeand anti-angiogenic effects of THC with significant reductionin staining for Ki67, a proliferative marker and CD31, an endothelialmarker indicative of vascularization. Investigation into thesignaling events associated with reduced EGF-induced functionaleffects revealed that THC also inhibits EGF-induced Akt phosphorylation.Akt is a central signaling molecule of EGFR-mediated signalingpathways and it regulates a diverse array of cellular functions,including proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and apoptosis.

Cumulatively, these studies indicate that THC has anti-tumorigenic and anti-metastatic effects against lung cancer. Novel therapies against EGFR overexpressing, aggressive and chemotherapy resistant lung cancers may include targeting the cannabinoids receptors.”

http://www.aacrmeetingabstracts.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/2007/1_Annual_Meeting/4749%20?maxtoshow&hits=80&RESULTFORMAT&fulltext=cannabinoid&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=1760&resourcetype=HWCIT

Marijuana habit not linked to lung cancer – The Oncology Report

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David

“Regular cannabis smokers are no more likely to develop lung cancer than are people who indulge occasionally.

The finding of no significant increased risk held true whether the smokers imbibed once or twice – or more – each day, and regardless of how many years they had smoked, Dr. Li Rita Zhang reported at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research.

The study included data from six case-control studies conducted from 1999 to 2012 in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, with a subject pool of 2,159 lung cancer cases and 2,985 controls. All of the studies were part of the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO), an international group of lung cancer researchers with the aim of sharing comparable data from ongoing and recently completed lung cancer studies from different geographical areas and ethnicities.

More: http://www.oncologypractice.com/oncologyreport/news/top-news/single-view/marijuana-habit-not-linked-to-lung-cancer/73840afd2cca226b9e6a9ddc7cb0d039.html

‘Marijuana habit not linked to lung cancer’, Oncology Practice Reports

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David

“OncologyPractice.com reports today that, “Regular cannabis smokers are no more likely to develop lung cancer than are people who indulge occasionally.” The cancer news site relates the findings of Dr. Li Rita Zhang reported at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research.”

““In an analysis of marijuana smokers that excluded tobacco smokers, there were no significant [cancer rate] differences in any of the comparisons, including habitual vs. nonhabitual use; number of joints smoked per day; duration of up to 20 years or duration of more than 20 years,” OncologyPractice reported.

The information fits in with prior assessments that marijuana smoking does not cause lung cancer.”

http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2013/05/09/marijuana-habit-not-linked-to-lung-cancer-oncology-practice-reports/

Study: No Association Between The Cumulative Consumption Of Cannabis Smoke And The Risk Of Lung Cancer

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David

“In a recent presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research, investigators from the university of California, Los Angeles provided the latest data reaffirming that cannabis consumption is not associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer. Below is a summary of the findings from The Oncology Report:

The study included data from six case-control studies conducted from 1999 to 2012 in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, with a subject pool of 2,159 lung cancer cases and 2,985 controls. All of the studies were part of the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO), an international group of lung cancer researchers with the aim of sharing comparable data from ongoing and recently completed lung cancer studies from different geographical areas and ethnicities.

Dr. Zhang of the University of California, Los Angeles, performed two analyses. One compared all lung cancer cases and all controls, regardless of concurrent or past tobacco use. Then, to reduce confounding by tobacco, she restricted the analysis to those who had never smoked tobacco.

… When compared with cannabis smokers who also used tobacco, habitual pot smokers had no significant increase in cancer risk. In an analysis of marijuana smokers that excluded tobacco smokers, there were no significant differences in any of the comparisons, including habitual vs. nonhabitual use; number of joints smoked per day; duration of up to 20 years or duration of more than 20 years.

The abstract of the presentation, which concludes “Our pooled results showed no significant association between the intensity, duration, or cumulative consumption of cannabis smoke and the risk of lung cancer overall or in never smokers,” is available online here.

Numerous preclinical studies have documented that cannabinoids possess potent anti-cancer properties, including the inhibition of lung cancer cell growth.”

More: http://enewspf.com/latest-news/health-and-fitness/43037-study-no-association-between-the-cumulative-consumption-of-cannabis-smoke-and-the-risk-of-lung-cancer.html

Medical Cannabis Treatment for Cancer and HIV/AIDS ?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by David

“Benefits of Medical Cannabis”

“Today, there are at least 17 states, including the District of Colombia, where cannabis is legal. Ohio, South Carolina, Colorado, New Jersey, California, and Michigan are just a few states that garnered strong support in the legalization of medical cannabis. In Illinois, a bill legalizing the use of cannabis needed the signature of Gov Pat Quinn. The legislation was approved by House and Senate, permitting doctors to prescribe cannabis for cancer and patients with HIV/AIDS and other diseases…

There is now quantifiable evidence that cannabis is beneficial in treating many disorders…

Moreover, the Medical Cannabis Research and the University of California found out that cannabis can treat HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis symptoms. It can even benefit cancer patients to mitigate the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy or as an alternative treatment for cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, brain cancer, and leukemia.”

More: http://guardianlv.com/2013/05/medical-cannabis-treatment-for-cancer-and-hivaids/

CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 AND PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR ACTIVATED RECEPTOR γ CONFER CANNABIDIOL-INDUCED APOPTOSIS OF HUMAN LUNG CANCER CELLS.

Posted on December 12, 2012 by David

Abstract

“The antitumorigenic mechanism of cannabidiol (CBD) is still controversial. This study investigates the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in CBDs proapoptotic and tumor-regressive action. In lung cancer cell lines (A549, H460) and primary cells from a lung cancer patient CBD elicited decreased viability associated with apoptosis. Apoptotic cell death by CBD was suppressed by NS-398 (COX-2 inhibitor), GW-9662 (PPARγ antagonist) and siRNA targeting COX-2 and PPARγ. CBD-induced apoptosis was paralleled by upregulation of COX-2 and PPARγ mRNA and protein expression with a maximum induction of COX-2 mRNA after 8 h and continuous increases of PPARγ mRNA when compared to vehicle. In response to CBD tumor cell lines exhibited increased levels of COX-2-dependent prostaglandins (PGs) among which PGD2 and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2) caused a translocation of PPARγ to the nucleus and induced a PPARγ-dependent apoptotic cell death. Moreover, in A549-xenografted nude mice CBD caused upregulation of COX-2 and PPARγ in tumor tissue, and tumor regression that was fully reversible by GW-9662. Together, our data demonstrate a novel proapoptotic mechanism of CBD involving initial upregulation of COX-2 and PPARγ and a subsequent nuclear translocation of PPARγ by COX-2-dependent PGs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23220503

Marijuana May Fight Lung Tumors – FoxNews

Posted on November 12, 2012 by David

“…the active ingredient in marijuana may help combat lung cancer, new research suggests.

In lab and mouse studies, the compound, known as THC, cut lung tumor growth in half and helped prevent the cancer from spreading, says Anju Preet, PhD, a Harvard University researcher in Boston who tested the chemical.

While a lot more work needs to be done, “the results suggest THC has therapeutic potential,” she tells WebMD.

Moreover, other early research suggests the cannabis compound could help fight brain, prostate, and skin cancers as well, Preet says.”