Tag Archives: medical marijuana

Cancer-fighting Potential of Cannabidiol Bodes Well for Dixie X Hemp Products

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“Research by California Pacific Medical Center indicating that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic compound found in hemp, may arrest the spread of aggressive, metastatic cancer cells, is drawing the attention of the medical community. John Malanca of medical cannabis resource UnitedPatientsGroup.com believes this encouraging news will also bring CBD to the attention of health-minded consumers.

“Many people want the health benefits of CBD, but they don’t want to get ‘high,’” said Malanca. “Dixie X products deliver a new option, and as our understanding and awareness of the health benefits of CBD grow, so does the attractiveness of Dixie X CBD wellness products.”

http://www.prweb.com/releases/cbd-pills/medical-cannabis-resource/prweb9985704.htm

Marijuana compound could stop aggressive cancer metastasis

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“A compound found in cannabis could halt the spread of many forms of aggressive cancer, scientists have claimed.

Researchers found that the compound, called cannabidiol, had the ability to “switch off” the gene responsible for metastasis in an aggressive form of breast cancer, the Daily Mail reported.

Importantly, this substance does not produce the psychoactive properties of the cannabis plant.

The team from the California Pacific Medical Center, in San Francisco, first spotted its potential five years ago, after it stopped the proliferation of human breast cancer cells in the lab, the report said.

They discovered that the compound had turned off the overexpression of ID-1, stopping them from travelling to distant tissues.

Other potentially treatable cancers are forms of leukaemia, lung, ovarian and brain cancers, which also have high levels of ID-1.”

http://in.news.yahoo.com/marijuana-compound-could-stop-aggressive-cancer-metastasis-064950912.html

Endocannabinoids in endocrine and related tumours.

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“The ‘endocannabinoid system’, comprising the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, their endogenous ligands, endocannabinoids and the enzymes that regulate their biosynthesis and degradation, has drawn a great deal of scientist attention during the last two decades. The endocannabinoid system is involved in a broad range of functions and in a growing number of physiopathological conditions. Indeed, recent evidence indicates that endocannabinoids influence the intracellular events controlling the proliferation of numerous types of endocrine and related cancer cells, thereby leading to both in vitro and in vivo antitumour effects. In particular, they are able to inhibit cell growth, invasion and metastasis of thyroid, breast and prostate tumours. The chief events of endocannabinoids in cancer cell proliferation are reported highlighting the correspondent signalling involved in tumour processes: regulation of adenylyl cyclase, cyclic AMP-protein kinase-A pathway and MEK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signalling cascade.

Up to date since the isolation and characterisation of the psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), about 60 different plant terpeno-phenols more or less related to THC have been isolated and defined cannabinoids. They include cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol, cannabigerol and cannabichromene. The discovery of these principles stimulated the generation of a whole range of synthetic analogues that included not only compounds structurally similar to phytocannabinoids, but also analogues with different chemical structures, including classic and non-classic cannabinoids and aminoalkylindoles (Howlett et al. 2002) as well as the subsequently discovered endogenous arachidonic acid derivatives or endocannabinoids. The discovery of this family of endogenous cannabinoids (Devane et al. 1992, Mechoulam et al. 1995, Sugiura et al. 1995) has focused much attention on cannabinoids and their pharmacological properties during the last few years (Di Marzo et al. 2004).”

http://erc.endocrinology-journals.org/content/15/2/391.long

The endocannabinoid system and cancer: therapeutic implication

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“The endocannabinoid system is implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions (inflammation, immunomodulation, analgesia, cancer and others).

The main active ingredient of cannabis, Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9) -THC), produces its effects through activation of CB(1) and CB(2) receptors. CB(1) receptors are expressed at high levels in the central nervous system (CNS), whereas CB(2) receptors are concentrated predominantly, although not exclusively, in cells of the immune system.

Endocannabinoids are endogenous lipid-signalling molecules that are generated in the cell membrane from phospholipid precursors. The two best characterized endocannabinoids identified to date are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Here we review the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and anti-tumour actions (inhibition of cell proliferation and migration, induction of apoptosis, reduction of tumour growth) of the cannabinoids in different types of cancer.

This review will focus on examining how activation of the endocannabinoid system impacts breast, prostate and bone cancers in both in vitro and in vivo systems. The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for cancer, as identified in clinical trials, is also discussed.

Identification of safe and effective treatments to manage and improve cancer therapy is critical to improve quality of life and reduce unnecessary suffering in cancer patients. In this regard, cannabis-like compounds offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of breast, prostate and bone cancer in patients.

Further basic research on anti-cancer properties of cannabinoids as well as clinical trials of cannabinoid therapeutic efficacy in breast, prostate and bone cancer is therefore warranted.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21410463

“The available literature suggests that the endocannabinoid system may be targeted to suppress the evolution and progression of breast, prostate and bone cancer as well as the accompanying pain syndromes. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that cannabinoids are efficacious in reducing cancer progression (i.e. inhibition of tumour growth and metastases as well as induction of apoptosis and other anti-cancer properties) in breast, prostate and bone cancer. Although this review focuses on these three types of cancer, activation of the endocannabinoid signalling system produces anti-cancer effects in other types of cancer.” http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01327.x/full

Cannabinoids and cancer.

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“Marijuana has been used in medicine for millennia, but it was not until 1964 that delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC), its major psychoactive component, was isolated in pure form and its structure was elucidated. Shortly thereafter it was synthesized and became readily available. However, it took another decade until the first report on its antineoplastic activity appeared. In 1975, Munson discovered that cannabinoids suppress Lewis lung carcinoma cell growth. The mechanism of this action was shown to be inhibition of DNA synthesis. Antiproliferative action on some other cancer cells was also found. In spite of the promising results from these early studies, further investigations in this area were not reported until a few years ago, when almost simultaneously two groups initiated research on the antiproliferative effects of cannabinoids on cancer cells: Di Marzo’s group found that cannabinoids inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, and Guzman’s group found that cannabinoids inhibit the growth of C6 glioma cell. Other groups also started work in this field, and today, a wide array of cancer cell lines that are affected is known, and some mechanisms involved have been elucidated.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16250836

CANNABIDIOL INHIBITS ANGIOGENESIS BY MULTIPLE MECHANISMS

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“Background and purpose: Several studies demonstrated anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic actions of cannabinoids on several tumours, together with their anti-angiogenic properties. The non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) effectively inhibits in vitro and in vivo the growth of different types of tumours and down-regulates some pro-angiogenic signal produced by glioma cells. As its anti-angiogenic properties have not been thoroughly investigated to date, and given its very favorable pharmacological and toxicological profile, here we evaluated CBD ability to modulate tumour angiogenesis. Experimental approach: We firstly evaluated CBD effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and viability- through MTT assay and FACS analysis-and in vitro motility-both in a classical Boyden chamber test and in a wound-healing assay. We next investigated CBD effects on different angiogenesis-related proteins released by HUVECs, using an angiogenic Array Kit and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) directed at MMP2. Afterwards we evaluated in vitro angiogenesis in treated HUVECs invading a Matrigel layer and in HUVEC spheroids embedded into collagen gels. We further characterized CBD effects using a Matrigel sponge model of in vivo angiogenesis. Key results: CBD induced HUVEC cytostasis without inducing apoptosis, inhibited HUVEC migration, invasion, and sprouting in vitro, and angiogenesis in vivo in matrigel sponges. These effects were associated with down-modulation of several angiogenesis-related molecules. Conclusions and Implications: This study reveals that CBD inhibits angiogenesis by multiple mechanisms. Its dual effect on both tumour and endothelial cells reinforces the hypothesis that CBD could represent a potential effective agent in cancer therapy.”

.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22624859

Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells by Coordinating the Cross-talk between Apoptosis and Autophagy

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“Cannabidiol (CBD), a major nonpsychoactive constituent of cannabis, is considered an antineoplastic agent on the basis of its in vitro and in vivo activity against tumor cells. However, the exact molecular mechanism through which CBD mediates this activity is yet to be elucidated. Here, we have shown CBD-induced cell death of breast cancer cells, independent of cannabinoid and vallinoid receptor activation. Electron microscopy revealed morphologies consistent with the coexistence of autophagy and apoptosis. Western blot analysis confirmed these findings. We showed that CBD induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and, subsequently, inhibits AKT and mTOR signaling as shown by decreased levels of phosphorylated mTOR and 4EBP1, and cyclin D1. Analyzing further the cross-talk between the autophagic and apoptotic signaling pathways, we found that beclin1 plays a central role in the induction of CBD-mediated apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Although CBD enhances the interaction between beclin1 and Vps34, it inhibits the association between beclin1 and Bcl-2. In addition, we showed that CBD reduces mitochondrial membrane potential, triggers the translocation of BID to the mitochondria, the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, and, ultimately, the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in breast cancer cells. CBD increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ROS inhibition blocked the induction of apoptosis and autophagy. Our study revealed an intricate interplay between apoptosis and autophagy in CBD-treated breast cancer cells and highlighted the value of continued investigation into the potential use of CBD as an antineoplastic agent.”

http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/10/7/1161.long

THC inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation through JunD

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“Tetrahydrocannabinol is a potent inhibitor of proliferation in cultured breast cancer cells and exerts its effect through the JunD transcription factor complex, researchers report.

There is increasing evidence that cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, possess antitumoral properties by inhibiting proliferation and angiogenesis or promoting apoptosis.

A previous study reported by MedWire News showed that cannabidiol, a non-toxic phytocannabinoid, can inhibit breast cancer spread in a rodent model of the disease.

In the present study, Cristina Sanchez (Complutense University, Madrid, Spain) and colleagues turned their attention to the more potent plant-derived cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

“These findings point therefore to a new target to inhibit breast cancer progression, which may contribute to the design of efficient treatments for this malignancy,’ Sanchez et al conclude in the journal Oncogene.”

http://www.medwire-news.md/46/74849/Oncology/THC_inhibits_breast_cancer_cell_proliferation_through_JunD.html

No medical benefit from marijuana? How about a cancer cure?

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“It’s been known for a long time that THC and other cannabinoids can effectively treat symptoms of cancer sufferers and chemotherapy patients, such as nausea, pain, loss of appetite and fatigue. But what scientists have proven in laboratory experiments and testing on animals the last few years is that cannabinoids also can kill cancer cells and stop the spread of aggressive types of the disease — cancer of the breast, brain, prostate, colon or lungs.

The way cannabinoids work, simply put, is by blocking or deactivating a gene called ID-1 that spreads cancer. One compound that’s been found to be especially effective doing this is called cannabidiol, or CBD.

Also, CBD (which unlike THC is non-psychoactive) and other cannabinoids are non-toxic, which greatly reduces the risk of harmful effects from their use.”

http://kpbj.com/opinions/editors_view/2012-10-02/no_medical_benefit_from_marijuana_how_about_a_cancer_cure

The Data is Very Strong: Marijuana Plant Extract Stops Cancers From Spreading

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” A compound found in cannabis could halt the spread of many forms of aggressive cancer, scientists say.

Researchers have now found that the compound, called cannabidiol, had the ability to ‘switch off’ the gene responsible for metastasis in an aggressive form of breast cancer. Importantly, this substance does not produce the psychoactive properties of the cannabis plant.

Nonpsychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidoil, are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses useful in the method of the present invention. CBD (Cannabidiol), one of the main constituents of the cannabis plant has been proven medically to relieve many diseases including the inhibition of cancer cell growth. Recent studies have shown it to be an effective atypical anti-psychotic in treating schizophrenia. CBD also interferes with the amount of THC your brain processes, balancing the psychotropic effect of marijuana. That is precisely why the power of raw cannabis is turning heads.”

http://myscienceacademy.org/2012/09/28/the-data-is-very-strong-marijuana-plant-extract-stops-cancers-from-spreading/