Posted on 04/18/2007 1:20:10 PM PDT by Teflonic
The active ingredient in marijuana cuts tumor growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread, say researchers at Harvard University who tested the chemical in both lab and mouse studies.
They say this is the first set of experiments to show that the compound, Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), inhibits EGF-induced growth and migration in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressing non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Lung cancers that over-express EGFR are usually highly aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy.
THC that targets cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 is similar in function to endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids that are naturally produced in the body and activate these receptors. The researchers suggest that THC or other designer agents that activate these receptors might be used in a targeted fashion to treat lung cancer.
"The beauty of this study is that we are showing that a substance of abuse, if used prudently, may offer a new road to therapy against lung cancer," said Anju Preet, Ph.D., a researcher in the Division of Experimental Medicine.
Acting through cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, endocannabinoids (as well as THC) are thought to play a role in variety of biological functions, including pain and anxiety control, and inflammation. Although a medical derivative of THC, known as Marinol, has been approved for use as an appetite stimulant for cancer patients, and a small number of U.S. states allow use of medical marijuana to treat the same side effect, few studies have shown that THC might have anti-tumor activity, Preet says. The only clinical trial testing THC as a treatment against cancer growth was a recently completed British pilot study in human glioblastoma.
In the present study, the researchers first demonstrated that two different lung cancer cell lines as well as patient lung tumor samples express CB1 and CB2, and that non-toxic doses of THC inhibited growth and spread in the cell lines. "When the cells are pretreated with THC, they have less EGFR stimulated invasion as measured by various in-vitro assays," Preet said.
Then, for three weeks, researchers injected standard doses of THC into mice that had been implanted with human lung cancer cells, and found that tumors were reduced in size and weight by about 50 percent in treated animals compared to a control group. There was also about a 60 percent reduction in cancer lesions on the lungs in these mice as well as a significant reduction in protein markers associated with cancer progression, Preet says.
Although the researchers do not know why THC inhibits tumor growth, they say the substance could be activating molecules that arrest the cell cycle. They speculate that THC may also interfere with angiogenesis and vascularization, which promotes cancer growth.
Preet says much work is needed to clarify the pathway by which THC functions, and cautions that some animal studies have shown that THC can stimulate some cancers. "THC offers some promise, but we have a long way to go before we know what its potential is," she said.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Association for Cancer Research.
Hard to believe it took college kids all these years to come up with a reason that smoking pot is good for you.. :)
I think I was the prototype for “Dave” actually. [smile]
Time to call out the Viking Cats?
And bump a pedophile/rapist/murderer/thief back onto the street!
Not if the actions of your freedom infringes on the rights and welfare of others as well as society.
So how does smoking pot do this?
Yes, you have missed my point.
Most of my relatives, friends, acquiantences that who used marijuana have gone on to other drugs. Some of these individuals have been incarcerated due to drug related crimes including murder, some have died as a result of cancer associated with drug use, and others have become mentally unstable.
In comparison, the friends and relatives, as well as acquiantences who have never used are living healthy lives.
One cannot, in all fairness, deny these facts.
Cheeseburgers are food, not a recreational drug. People need food. They do not need recreational drugs.
“People don’t die from smoking pot.” That is correct. People don’t die WHILE smoking pot. They die from diseases or conditions as a result of smoking pot.
Hey! He might git hit by RADON!!! (That stuff lurks in basements, don’tcha know?)
“But you will then die of obesity.”
Naw, drink the bong water, I hear that kills your appetite.
(chuckle)
You should watch V for Vendetta I think you’d really relate to the “Leader”. You remind me of him A LOT!! He was a good “conservative” guy much who would really enjoy your posts on this thread and agree vigorously!
You should watch V for Vendetta I think you’d really relate to the “Leader”. You remind me of him A LOT!! He was a good “conservative” guy who would really enjoy your posts on this thread and agree vigorously!
“You’re using the same argument against pot that Joe Stalin used against religion!”
Your fallacious association fails the acid test. Stalin was an atheist. He naturally attacked religion.
If you have a child whose parents have provided a home environment that is unhealthy, and neglects this child, often times that child is either left to fend for himself or the state has to step in and “care” for this child. That is far different from what Joseph Stalin sought to accomplish.
If you read all of my posts on this thread you should understand what I mean by this.
But if that pleasure infringes on the rights and well being of others, and threatens the foundational fabric that binds this country, then it should be opposed.
So where are the laws against premarital sex, alcohol, and mid life crisis splurges?
What do I know.
Not much about freedom and liberty - We ALL know that!!
“Your problem is with the welfare state, not with marijuana.”
Frankly, the welfare state is every tax payers problem. Therefore, given the burden that is placed on society by those using illicit drugs, marijuana is every tax payers problem as well.
“Plenty of perfectly legal activities have the same effect on society-—why do you blame them solely on marijuana?”
And a comparable example would be?
I have not blamed “them solely on marijuana”.
If you’ll read through the entire thread and posts you’ll see that I have also sited the burden placed on society by other drugs.
But since the taxpayers are footing the bill of those who do injure themselves because of bad decisions they make, then allow the taxpayers the freedom to write laws governing that behavior to minimize costs.
Or better yet, get govt. out of the business of paying for people’s health care, make prison extremely cheap and spartan, stop putting nonviolent drug offenders in prison, don’t pay people to not work, disband the DEA and all of the Drug Warrior money pit organizations, let Columbia fight it’s guerillas on it’s own dime, and quit spending tax money on bigger guns/tanks/high tech toys/military training for LEA’s to enforce prohibition! How about that, then we can be free and keep our money.
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