cannabisnews.com: Study: Pot Slows Lung Cancer in Mice





Study: Pot Slows Lung Cancer in Mice
Posted by CN Staff on April 18, 2007 at 06:40:14 PT
Bloomberg News
Source: Newsday
USA -- Giving marijuana to mice with cancer shrank their lung tumors by half and slowed spread of the disease, findings that may one day expand legal use of the substance as a treatment, researchers said.The research is the first to show that marijuana's active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabol, or THC, blocks a known cancer-related protein that's already the target of drugs such as ImClone System Inc.'s Erbitux and Amgen Inc.'s Vectibix.
The findings, presented yesterday at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Los Angeles, add to evidence that marijuana may have anti-tumor properties, researchers said. Scientists speculate THC may activate biological pathways that halt cancer cell division or block development of blood vessels that feed tumors."THC can have a potential therapeutic role," said Anju Preet, the study's lead author and a researcher at Harvard University's division of experimental medicine. "Maybe THC is killing cells. The preliminary studies are promising."Tumor cells dosed with THC also showed a reduction in epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR, which means the substance may be acting similarly to Erbitux and Vectibix, which block the protein, Preet said.The group includes Erbitux, which treats colon and head and neck cancers; Vectibix, which treats colon cancer; OSI Pharmaceuticals' Tarceva, approved for lung and pancreatic cancer; and AstraZeneca Plc's Iressa, which treats lung cancer.Lung cancer cells with high levels of EGFR are generally very aggressive and treatment-resistant, researchers said.In addition to reducing tumor size by half, THC was also associated with a 60 percent reduction in cancer lesions in the lungs of mice. More work needs to be done to understand how THC prevents tumor growth and to find the right dose before starting clinical trials, Preet said. Previous research has shown that too much THC can stimulate cancer growth, she said."Before jumping into clinical study, we need to understand how it works, which can help us design a better therapeutic," Preet said.In the United States, 11 states allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes. Only one THC drug, Marinol, is approved in this country. The treatment, made by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, is used as an appetite stimulant for cancer patients. Source: Newsday (NY)Published: April 18, 2007Copyright: 2007 Newsday Inc.Contact: letters newsday.comWebsite: http://www.newsday.com/Related Articles:Marijuana May Fight Lung Tumorshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22879.shtmlMarijuana Compound May Fight Lung Cancerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22878.shtmlPot Shrinks Tumors - Government Knew in '74 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9211.shtmlPot Shrinks Tumors: Government Knew in 74 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5972.shtml
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Comment #29 posted by whig on April 19, 2007 at 09:28:26 PT
Max
Some of these entries are REALLY BAD by the way. See "Green Crack" for instance. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, as they say.The Kush (herb) entry is quite good, by contrast. Which is a helpful thing for me at the moment.
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Comment #28 posted by whig on April 19, 2007 at 09:20:35 PT
Max
Imagine how confusing it is for those of us who have no direct knowledge of cannabis breeding. I hope you will help Wikipedia straighten this out for us.I'm currently enjoying some bud that is nearly purple -- probably would make a prohibitionist scream about dangerous potency, but really, it just smells nice. Who's afraid of pretty flowers anyhow?
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Comment #27 posted by BGreen on April 18, 2007 at 23:19:07 PT
You're being paranoid, John Tyler
And I'm a liar.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #26 posted by John Tyler on April 18, 2007 at 22:37:37 PT
made me wince
This sentence made me wince, “The research is the first to show that marijuana's active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabol, or THC, blocks a known cancer-related protein that's already the target of drugs such as ImClone System Inc.'s Erbitux and Amgen Inc.'s Vectibix.” If I was a greedy fatcat CEO of a rich drug company I would certainly not want to have my company’s expensive drugs compete with a plant that people could grow at home for free. Tell me I’m just being paranoid. 
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Comment #25 posted by Max Flowers on April 18, 2007 at 21:45:38 PT
Wiki strain fights
On the other hand, debates (and that's putting it mildly) often erupt over disputed facts on strain heritage and history (who was involved, who wasn't, etc.), and there could be a lot of heated wiki-revising that will go on. I'm not kidding, among the highly opinionated self-appointed keepers of "strain history", there are always vociferous disagreements over the "facts". Good thing Wikipedia encourages public revisions.
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Comment #24 posted by Max Flowers on April 18, 2007 at 21:39:54 PT
Wow! Wikipedia strain info?!
I cannot believe that Wikipedia is allowing strain entries!! Do you know what this means? It means that now that they've started, they are sort of obligated to continue and put up as many as people submit! That could be hundreds! There are hundreds, more likely thousands of varieties.I'm going to start submitting and getting all my friends at my favorite cannabis forums to do the same...
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 18:56:53 PT
mayan
You're welcome.
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Comment #22 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 18:50:04 PT
Wikiwiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cannabis_strains
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Comment #21 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 18:40:10 PT
Bruddah Iz
Somewhere over the rainbowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-alr7P_qk
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Comment #20 posted by mayan on April 18, 2007 at 18:14:14 PT
Smoke–Free Medical Marijuana!!!
FoM, Thanks for comment #3...and everything else! The widespread knowledge and acceptance of vaporizors is what the prohibitionists fear most! There will no longer be any perceived excuse to ban medical cannabis. This is a dagger of a nail in the coffin of cannabis prohibition!On yet another unrelated note, Dennis Kucinich says he will lead an investigation of 9/11 but it won't begin until around september. SEPTEMBER??? I am beginning to think that he is the left-gatekeeper candidate. The way things are going for this administration they will have to implement 9/11 pt. 2 by then just to remain in power. We are all in great danger with Bush/Cheney still in power. There is absolutely no time to waste!Dennis Kucinich Reaffirms Upcoming Domestic Policy Committee Inquiry into 9/11:
http://911blogger.com/node/7953THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Scholars debate 9/11 findings:
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Gleeson_John/2007/04/18/4055849.htmlMilitary Leaders Question 9/11:
http://911blogger.com/node/79559/11 Rescue Hero William Rodriguez Coming to Madison - 4/21/07: 
http://mujca.com/rodriguez.htmUnanswered Questions of 9/11:
http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/unanswered_questions_911.html9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #19 posted by charmed quark on April 18, 2007 at 16:46:33 PT
too much thc promotes cancer growth
Here's the only study I can find.
http://www.jimmunol.org/cgi/content/full/174/6/3281Normally, in medicine, any significant result would result in many papers. With the DEA pushing research into ill effects, you'd expect a huge number.I took a look at this paper. First, they were giving huge quantities of THC to the rodents. The lowest dose was 12.5 mg per kilogram. As a comparison, the largest dose of Marinol is 10 mg of THC. This is enough to cause significant psychoactive effects in most people. A 70 kg man (154 lbs) would have to take over 87 of these pills to get the rodent exposure.And the tumor size at this dose at day 21 was identical to the control - the chemical carrier (DMSO) used with the THC.
Only at day 23 was there a slight difference, probably just random. Only with a dose of 50 mg/kg do I see a significant difference over the control. This would be 348 capsules of Marinol.So a dose of 348 10 mg capsules of Marinol might be too much THC.
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Comment #18 posted by dongenero on April 18, 2007 at 13:44:12 PT
cannabis may fight lung cancer
Isn't it interesting how this news does not show up in AP or Reuters health news headlines.Differing views on obese women in the Middle East?.....Sure!Skim milk best for pumping up muscle mass?....You bet!Study: Abstinence classes don't stop sex!....oh darn, I think!Cannabis may stop lung cancer????........oh whatever, no need to publish that trivial news.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 12:28:25 PT
whig
Thank you. It was beautiful. We had to cut down a Japanese Willow we have because it broke in so many places and got in the way of my satellite. There are small shoots starting at the base so it will regrow I think. 
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Comment #16 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 12:17:56 PT
FoM
Wow, that is so beautiful!
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 12:04:38 PT
whig
That made me think of our ice storm. I uploaded one pic.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/icestorm.JPG
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Comment #14 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 11:44:01 PT
A change of season
Tortoise - Glass Museumhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdblc_OMAA8
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 11:41:16 PT
whig
And thank you too young man.
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Comment #12 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 11:39:39 PT
FoM
Thank you! And everyone of us who has been working for this.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 11:31:57 PT
nuevo mexican
We are watching the Live in Berlin Video with Roger Waters. The last song is called The Tide is Turning. I couldn't find that one on Youtube but this one is good too. The Tide is Turning. Thank you God!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvTvWJWeQ2g
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Comment #10 posted by fight_4_freedom on April 18, 2007 at 11:18:17 PT:
off topic
but first, excellent post nuevo!Now for all you that have not watched "U.S. vs. John Lennon", I suggest you do so. Excellent movie that really captures how bad the government couldn't stand him for standing up against that war and for preaching peace and love to the world.Again, I suggest anyone who hasn't watched it to go out and do so, it'll be worth your time.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 11:17:46 PT
nuevo mexican 
My goodness thank you very much. We are so traumatized.
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Comment #8 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 11:15:30 PT
nuevo mexican
Amen brother.
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Comment #7 posted by nuevo mexican on April 18, 2007 at 11:03:20 PT
Cannabis for all! We are all traumatized now!
The trauma wreaked upon the American population on Monday at V-Tech was horrific, and to make a larger point: that our suffering is nothing compared to the Iraqi population on a daily basis, 127 people and 90 injured today, the death toll will go up, and this happens EACH and EVERY day!
 
And how does the MSM feed us the story, with the 'human interest' aspect floated to manipulate our fear-based emotions?People, we are now officially members of a country that will be on the karmic receiving end of the stick, as is happening with school shootings, corporate support of racists' and racism, the unmasking of our governments' dismantling of the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, Habeau Corpus, etc.....The list of injustices goes on forever, torture, lies, deception, no accountability....This country has gradually become one seemingly full of sickos and violent video game killer wannabes, where murder is a spectator sport, as we watch thousands maimed, murdered, blown to bits, for a pack of lies AND everyone obviously knows the truth now, and we don't do a thing about it.And those who do are demonized by bush, cheney, and the stenographers in the MSM, unlike Stewart and Colbert, the only real news coverage there is, outside of Democracy Now, and the Internet.We are truly a dis-empowered people, nuetered, castrated, 
suffering for the karmic effect of being a country born of genocide, that continues daily, while we sit here and wait for our fates to take place, most likely similar to those of the Iraqi people, since they are as innocent as the American people, are they not?And up to a million Iraqis' dead, according to a new Australian report, with little MSM coverage, and we Americans manage to barely function as we are grief stricken, guilty by association, ashamed, in fear of our own government, and truly dis-hearted, saddened, and un-inspired to act.Some, not all.So for those who can still think clearly, (usually with the assistance of Cannabis) and have the ability to 'reason', and have come to the point where you are totally fed up with the lack of quick action by our so-called leaders, (some Dems are up to the job, many still are not), what do we do now?First, the troops must be brought home now, (imagine the problems we will have then!), before more are traumatized and turned into future serial killers for the MSM to report 24/7 on, while the thugs at the top go unnoticed in their rampant attack on anything good for the world, the Earth, and it's people, plants and animals!Are we there yet!Have we arrived at the 'tipping point'?Will Americans' take their country back from the corporate war mongers, or continue to slide downward into a hell of the Neo-cons' making?I believe the lack of Cannabis in the diet of politicians, world leaders, acadamia, news models, corporate employees, and victims of unconstitutional drug-testing, has led up to the de-humanization of the species, as the removal of hemp worldwide from the natures cycle is leading to global warming. (Natures' perfect design to remove that which is not in harmony with the planet, thus, we humans create global warming as a self-cleansing device for the planet!Self-condemnation leads to extermination of the species, mutation at the minimum.Cannabis medicine/relaxation/spiritual insight tonic!The cure for what ails the world, a toke here, and Peace there!
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Comment #6 posted by whig on April 18, 2007 at 10:48:58 PT
dishonesty
"Previous research has shown that too much THC can stimulate cancer growth, she said"CITE.
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Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on April 18, 2007 at 10:41:49 PT
Well it’s about time
for cancer organizations to get on board. Is the American Association for Cancer Research the only one???Where have all these people been for years and years???Since they are specializing in promoting cancer cures (donated and taxpayer money) one would think that if there were any chance of finding cures and treatments for cancer that they would jump all over it and call for detailed research. But no, they all took a pass. Wonder why???“Previous research has shown that too much THC can stimulate cancer growth, she said.”and just where did that research come from??? Or is that something just thrown in to cover up the years of obfuscation.American Cancer Society where are you???and have you (cancer researchers) read about research from more than 30yrs ago.???Hhhmmm.
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Comment #4 posted by TroutMask on April 18, 2007 at 08:25:24 PT
Hippies everywhere?
American Association for Cancer ResearchIt will be hard to label these folks pot-smoking hippy legalizers.-TM
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 08:14:14 PT
Press Release from MPP
Studies Validate Smoke–Free Medical MarijuanaVaporization Avoids Exposure to Contaminants in Smoke; Associated With Reduced Respiratory SymptomsApril 18, 2007SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — Two new studies, one from the University of California, San Francisco, and the other from the University at Albany, State University of New York, provide strong evidence that technology now allows medical use of marijuana with the rapid action and easy dose adjustment of inhalation, but without the respiratory hazards associated with smoking. This is considered highly important, as the risks associated with smoke inhalation have been cited by both government officials and independent experts as a major argument against medical marijuana.http://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1157875&ct=3790475
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 07:49:08 PT
Press Release From The Drug Policy Alliance
Thank Maryland Legislators for Sentencing ReformApril 17, 2007 http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/041707maryland.cfm
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 18, 2007 at 06:54:43 PT
Related Article from ScienceDaily
Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Showshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
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