October 12th -2016
As is common knowledge October is national Breast cancer awareness month. As is little less than common knowledge and a much talked about subject is whether or not cannabis can be used as a treatment for certain cancers.
Recently, a study conducted in Japan revealed that cannabinoids have the ability to inhibit tumor growth. From this study further looks into the role that cannabinoids may play in cancer treatment research have been conducted. Out of this arose a team of Spanish researches who, in 2010, published a study about the usage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and a synthetic cannabidiol (CBD). This study can be found, in the “Molecular Cancer” journal. Through a series of trials involving mice and 87 human patients with breast tumors, potential anti-cancer benefits were revealed.
When looking at breast cancer specifically one must first understand what breast cancer is. As it stands “breast cancer” is a rather broad term given to a number of similar diseases. HER2-positive is a type of breast cancer that grows rapidly, unpredictably, recurrently. It was this strain that was tested against the usage of THC and CBD. In doing so, researchers found that cancer cells contain CB2 receptors. THC and CBD both are proven to interact with CB2 receptors to inhibit cell proliferation, create programmed cell death, and hinder tumor angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the process of enlarging blood vessels to provide nourishment for a tumor to grow. Approximately 91% of these tumors have responded to CBD and THC treatment. While research is still inconclusive and in development. The research so far is promising. As of today cannabis is being used as a counter to chemotherapy. As more and more evidence is brought to light, cannabis may one day replace chemotherapy as an anti-cancer treatment after surgery.
