Research

May 6, 2010 - Patumthani, Thailand

Patumthani, Thailand: The administration of THC inhibits cell proliferation and induces anti-tumor effects on cholangiocarcinoma (biliary tract cancer) cells, according to preclinical trial data published in the May issue of the scientific journal Cancer Investigation.

Investigators at Rangsit University in Thailand assessed the anti-cancer properties of THC on both cholangiocarcinoma cell lines and surgical specimens from bile duct cancer patients.

Researchers reported, "THC inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis (programmed cell death). THC also ... reduced tumor cell survival."

Authors concluded that THC could be used as a potential agent to "retard cholangiocarcinoma cell growth and metastasis."

A 2008 scientific review published in the journal Cancer Research reported that cannabinioids inhibit cell proliferation in a wide range of cancers, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma.

A study published earlier this year in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics found that the administration of multiple cannabinoids showed greater efficacy at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and inducing malignant cell death than did the exposure to individual agents.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "The dual effects of delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol on cholangiocarcinoma cells: anti-invasion activity at low concentration and apoptosis induction at high concentration," appears in the journal Cancer Investigation.


Source: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8178

San Francisco, CA: Marijuana's active compounds act synergistically to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce malignant cell death, according to preclinical trial data published online by the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.

Investigators at the University of California, Pacific Medical Center Research Institute assessed whether the administration of the non-psychoactive cannabidiol would enhance the anti-cancer effects of THC on glioblastoma (brain cancer) cells.

Researchers reported that a combination of cannabinoids showed greater anti-cancer activity than the administration of either compound individually. "We discovered that cannabidiol enhanced the ability of THC to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (programmed cell death)," authors reported.

Investigators concluded: "Individually, THC and cannabidiol can activate distinct pathways in glioblastoma cells that ultimately culminate in inhibition of cancer cell growth and invasion as well as induction of cell death. We hypothesized that, if the individual agents were combined, a convergence on shared pathways may ensue, leading to an enhanced ability of the combination treatment to inhibit certain cancer cell phenotypes. We found this to be true in this investigation."

A 2008 scientific review published in the journal Cancer Research reported that the cannabinioids inhibit cell proliferation in a wide range of cancers, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Cannabidiol enhances the inhibitory effects of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on human glioblastoma cell proliferation and survival," appears online in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.

Marijuana is much safer, more effective and less costly than many alternatives currently in use. The Drug Enforcement Administration's own top administrative law judge, Francis L. Young, dismissed the drug warriors' untrue propaganda when he ruled in 1988 that, "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."