Posted on 12/28/2007 8:47:30 AM PST by Sir Gawain
Dec. 26, 2007 -- 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 -- yet to be proven in human studies -- 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.
Might cannabinoids keep dangerous tumors from spreading throughout the body? Ramer and Hinz set up an experiment in which invasive cervical and lung cancer cells had make their way through a tissue-like gel. Even at very low concentrations, the marijuana compounds THC and methanandamide (MA) significantly slowed the invading cancer cells.
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.
The researchers are quick to point out that much more study is needed to find out whether these test-tube results apply to tumor growth in animals and in humans.
Ramer and Hinz report the findings in the Jan. 2, 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
I didn’t know test tubes could get cancer.
No, I think you have to stuff the cancer patient in the test tube first? Hmm, beat me to the punch line ha ha.
Note that it doesn’t stop or reverse the cancer... the cancer just slows down for a minute to find some munchies.
Well Duh. Ever see a fast stoner?
It just made the cancer cells apathetic.
Like, sweet, braw.
Carolyn
Is there anything the wonder weed cannot do?
If any of this can be proven...then prescribe the therapeutic essence...in medicinal form controlled by the medical establishment, cultured in tightly controlled environments.
This is wonderful news for the DEA. If more cancer patients decide to use marijuana to get relief from symptoms and as hopes for a possible cure. It means more raids, more confiscation of property and more inmates in federal prisons. They love when life suddenly has purpose
CD,
I pray that any treatment you seek is succesful and that Our Lord protect and heal you.
Yup: Ricky Williams.
Kidding aside, I hope there’s something to this.
Yeahhh dude.....like uhhh....i have those test tubes...
... except we call `em like... bongs dude...righteous !
I knew hitting my bong cured everything.
Brian: You smoke?
Mary Jane: No my grandmother died from lung cancer.
Brian: That's all the more reason to toke up man! It'll ease the pain!
Did it slow the cancer or did it slow the people watching the cancer?
No surprise — ganja will slow down anything.
Know any friends that have done it? That’s your first place to ask.
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