Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Radio Show & Podcast Feedback => Topic started by: thedoc on 24/02/2015 18:09:58
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Chemicals in cannabis have shown promising results in halting
the growth of cancerous cells in the lab. But will this translate
into a cure?
Read a transcript of the interview by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1001164/)
or [chapter podcast=1000995 track=15.02.24/Naked_Scientists_Show_15.02.24_1003362.mp3](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2FHTML%2Ftypo3conf%2Fext%2Fnaksci_podcast%2Fgnome-settings-sound.gif&hash=f2b0d108dc173aeaa367f8db2e2171bd) Listen to it now[/chapter] or [download as MP3] (http://nakeddiscovery.com/downloads/split_individual/15.02.24/Naked_Scientists_Show_15.02.24_1003362.mp3)
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A new study suggests that cannabinoids may act as anticancer agents. The activation of the endocannabinoids system may exert anti-tumoral activity in a wide range of cancer cells. Moreover, THC induce cancer cell death (apoptosis) and inhibit tumor angiogenesis.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584615001190
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If smoking cannabis was a cure for cancer, surely dope-fiend Tommy Chong should never have developed it in the first place ...
On July 15, 2012, Chong tweeted that the hemp oil treatment he'd been using to cure his cancer was effective and that he is "99% cancer free." However, on June 16, 2015, Chong stated that he had contracted rectal cancer and was "using cannabis like crazy" in order to endure the [proven] treatment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Chong#Cancer_diagnosis
That's one example , an anecdote, we can't draw reliable conclusions from that. What's needed is to find a large population study to see if the incidence* of cancer is lower in cannabis-users, or if cancer-sufferers who were/are cannabis-users, live longer with cancer than their non-stoner counterparts.
[ * similarly, see if hippies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie#Drugs) over-represented amongst the elderly, e.g. when you visit granny in the old-folks-home, does it look like a Woodstock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock) reunion [:)] ]
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/does-smoking-cannabis-cause-cancer (http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/does-smoking-cannabis-cause-cancer)
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"Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory"
"Antitumor activity
Studies in mice and rats have shown that cannabinoids may inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumors to grow. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that cannabinoids may be able to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells.
A study in mice showed that cannabinoids may protect against inflammation of the colon and may have potential in reducing the risk of colon cancer, and possibly in its treatment.
A laboratory study of delta-9-THC in hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) cells showed that it damaged or killed the cancer cells. The same study of delta-9-THC in mouse models of liver cancer showed that it had antitumor effects. Delta-9-THC has been shown to cause these effects by acting on molecules that may also be found in non-small cell lung cancer cells and breast cancer cells.
A laboratory study of cannabidiol (CBD) in estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells showed that it caused cancer cell death while having little effect on normal breast cells. Studies in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer showed that cannabinoids may lessen the growth, number, and spread of tumors.
A laboratory study of cannabidiol (CBD) in human glioma cells showed that when given along with chemotherapy, CBD may make chemotherapy more effective and increase cancer cell death without harming normal cells. Studies in mouse models of cancer showed that CBD together with delta-9-THC may make chemotherapy such as temozolomide more effective."
Source: http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq