New research reveals how cannabis compound could slow tumour growth

Scientists at the University of East Anglia have shown how the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis could reduce tumour growth in cancer patients.
Research published today reveals the existence of previously unknown signaling platforms which are responsible for the drug’s success in shrinking tumours.

It is hoped that the findings could help develop a synthetic equivalent with anti-cancer properties.

The research was co-led with the Universidad Complutense de Madridin, Spain. The team used samples of human cancer cells to induce tumours in mice. They then targeted the tumours with doses of the cannabis compound THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). They found that two cell receptors in particular were responsible for the drug’s anti-tumour effects.

http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2014/July/cancer-cannabis

So it might be true afterall.

You can't just smoke it to kill cancer, the amount required would mean you'd be dead from oxygen deprivation.

I'm convinced that everything in existence either helps cause or prevent at least one type of cancer.

Worth noting that on this one they are looking at creating synthetic equivalents with anti-cancer properties, so it won't help the legalisation debate unfortunately.

But ingesting a few blobs of hash oil might.

You'd need to eat a plate full each day.

You'll just have to wait for the concentration in tablet form.

Already legal for such purposes with license.

You can't just smoke it to kill cancer, the amount required would mean you'd be dead from oxygen deprivation.

Again, I hate to debunk the current myth that cannabis cures cancer. Nearly all of these experiments, including this one, has only been shown to work in mice.

There is little or no evidence that it cures human cancers. I'm not saying this isn't good news, it's good to see that progress is being made in the fight against cancer. I just don't want to see anyone saying "Cannabis is illegal but it cures cancer ect..."

Well this does suggest that it may not be a myth.



Given how safe cannabis is its enough to convince me that it would at least be worth a try.

No, no it doesn't. Very few experiments which work on mice will work in humans.

I don't know about how safe it is, or why it hasn't been legalised. All I know is that there's little evidence which suggests it will work in human cancers. In the article it states they used human cancer cells to induce tumours in mice. The drug may be able to target human cancer cells and leave mice cells, but I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar that this drug won't be able to distinguish between human cancer cells and normal healthy human cells.

All this experiment has done is identify potential target receptors which may or may not be involved in human cancers.

I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar that this drug won't be able to distinguish between human cancer cells and normal healthy human cells.

cannabinoids (THC) and cannabis are different.

cannabis firstly is mixed with tobacco, which causes cancer.

honestly there really is no interest in developing cannabinoids for cancer treatments.

it is old and it has been done years ago and it does not work in humans for this.

what is done now is just academic, on mice, no one cares. there is no evidence they make good treatments. the current breakthroughs cancer treatments, e.g. PD-1 agents, have been show to do the impossible (potentially cure metastatic melanoma cancer in humans), which is unheard of. in the current century with immunotherapy for cancer showing potentially curative options, no drug company is going to waste there time on cannabinoids for cancer when you have drugs currently available that work much better and those in development that can potential cure even advanced cancer.

cannabinoids (THC) and cannabis are different. cannabis firstly is mixed with tobacco, which causes cancer. honestly there really is no interest in developing cannabinoids for cancer treatments. it is old and it has been done years ago and it does not work in humans for this. what is done now is just academic, on mice, no one cares. there is no evidence they make good treatments. the current breakthroughs cancer treatments, e.g. PD-1 agents, have been show to do the impossible (potentially cure metastatic melanoma cancer in humans), which is unheard of. in the current century with immunotherapy for cancer showing potentially curative options, no drug company is going to waste there time on cannabinoids for cancer when you have drugs currently available that work much better and those in development that can potential cure even advanced cancer.