Pot and Lung Cancer

[Nushka]

Pot's Active Ingredient Halts Lung Cancer Growth, Study Says

April 19, 2007 - Los Angeles, CA, USA

Los Angeles, CA: The administration of THC significantly reduces lung tumor size and lesions, according to preclinical data presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Los Angeles.

Investigators at Harvard University's Division of Experimental Medicine reported that THC inhibited the growth and spread of cells in vitro from two different lung cancer cell lines and from patient lung tumors. They also reported that THC administration reduced the growth of lung tumors in mice by more than 50 percent compared to untreated controls over a three-week period.

Researchers noted that THC appeared to block a specific cancer-causing protein in a manner similar to the pharmaceutical anti-cancer drugs Erbitux (Cetuximab) and Vectibix (Panitumumab).

Results of a large-scale, case-controlled population study published last year found that smoking cannabis, even long-term, is not positively associated with increased incidence of lung-cancer. Investigators in that study noted that one subset of moderate lifetime users had an inverse association between cannabis use and lung cancer, leading them to speculate that cannabinoids may possess certain protective properties against the development of lung cancer in humans.

Separate preclinical studies indicate that compounds in marijuana inhibit cancer cell growth in animals and in culture on a wide range of tumoral cell lines ­-- including human breast carcinoma cells, human prostate carcimona cells, and human colectoral carcinoma cells, among others. Most recently, investigators at Madrid's Complutense University, School of Biology, reported in the British Journal of Cancer that THC administration decreases recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (brain) tumor growth in patients diagnosed with the disease.

[Flowergirlie]

It stops you from doing anything so why wouldn't it stop the tumors and cancer?

Seriously though, I wish it had worked on my hubby. But, it did help him get through many tough periods of his treatment, definitely! I am a complete advocate for the benefits of marijuana! I have been reading about it for years and it can help tremendously and anyone who can not see that by now is not paying attention.

Thanks for sharing the information!

Flowergirlie

[Lisa O]

I would guess that smoking marijuana as dealer's sell it to the general public poses more of a risk due to chemicals and impurities ingested through the lungs.

[dtay]

I agree, smoking it would not be too good !! What about eating it would this be better ? Any thoughts ?

Dawn

[Welthy]

Brownies --- but you didn't hear that from me.

[pattimarzano]

They make a vaporizor now that heats the herb up to a temperature below smoking it and you inhale just the vapors. This way you don't take in any of the smoke or anything bad, just the vapors of the THC. It is an incredible pain reliever. Eating it also helps but you need to know the grower. Pesticides are so harmful. Medical Marijuana is the way to go, but finding a doctor to prescribe it is an issue even in States where it is legal. Then getting the prescription filled is another issue. If I had a prescription for it personally, I'd grow my own.

[Lisa O]

very interesting