IACM Bulletin 4/12/09: Brain cancer, Diabetes, Stroke, Systemic Sclerosis

[Sequoiacrone]

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IACM-Bulletin of 12 April 2009
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*** Abstract deadline for IACM Conference on 2-3 October
2009 ***
Please do not forget to send your abstract in time for the IACM
Conference 2009. The deadline for oral presentations is 15 April
and for poster presentations 15 June. Please make your
submission at the "Call for papers" button on the conference
website at:
http://www.iacm2009.org

*** Forum for discussion on French site ***
A new forum for questions and discussions has started on the
French part of the IACM website.
http://www.cannabis-med.org

* Science: THC induces autophagy in human brain cancer cells

1.

Science: THC induces autophagy in human brain cancer cells

Spanish researchers were able to demonstrate that the cannabis
compound THC (dronabinol) induces death of human brain cancer
cells through stimulation of autophagy. They also showed that
autophagy happens before apoptosis, a form of programmed cell
death, in dronabinol-induced cancer cell death and that this cell
reaction was necessary for the anti-tumour action of cannabinoids
in animals. "Our findings support that safe, therapeutically
efficacious doses of THC may be reached in cancer patients,"
Guillermo Velasco of Complutense University in Madrid and
colleagues reported in their article for a scientific journal.

The term "autophagy" from Greek means literally "self-eating".
Autophagy can promote cell death, but the exact mechanisms
underlying its role in cancer remains unclear. It involves the
degradation of a cell's own components and plays a normal role in
cell growth and development, helping to maintain a balance
between synthesis and degradation of cellular products. The most
well-known mechanism of autophagy involves the formation of a
membrane around a region of the cell, separating the contents
from the rest of the cell content, which is then degraded.
Autophagy may play a role in the battle against cancer and in the
defence of infections.

(Source: Salazar M, Carracedo A, Salanueva IJ, Hernández-
Tiedra S, Lorente M, Egia A, Vázquez P, Blázquez C, Torres S,
García S, Nowak J, Fimia GM, Piacentini M, Cecconi F, Pandolfi
PP, González-Feria L, Iovanna JL, Guzmán M, Boya P, Velasco
G. Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death
through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells. J Clin
Invest. 2009 Apr 1. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

2.

News in brief

***USA: Michigan
On 6 April the state of Michigan started to accept applications for
its medical cannabis program. Medical conditions that qualify for
the new program include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis
C, Crohn's disease, severe and chronic pain or nausea, seizures
and spasticity. The state issues identification cards for these
patients. In November 2008 voters decided Michigan should join
twelve other states to allow the medical use of cannabis. (Source:
Detroit News of 7 April 2009)

***Spain: Mallorca
Doctors on Mallorca should be able to prescribe to their patients
cannabis for therapeutic purposes. On 7 April the parliament of
the Baleares voted in favour of this issue with a large majority. It
is intended first to evaluate results of pilot projects in other regions
of Spain. The decision of the regional parliament of the Baleares
is possible because the responsibility for the health system has
been passed on to the regional government by the central
government. (Source: mallorazeitung.es of 9 April 2009)

***Science: New cannabinoids
Nine new cannabinoids were detected in a cannabis variety with a
high dronabinol content by researchers of the University of
Mississippi, USA. Two of them belong to the cannabichromene
type (CBC), one to the cannabigerol type (CBG) and two to the
cannabinol type (CBN) of cannabinoids. One of the new CBN
type cannabinoids (8-hydroxycannabinol) and another cannabinoid
displayed significant antibacterial activities. The number of
cannabinoids ever detected in cannabis now increases to about
80. (Source: Radwan MM, et al. J Nat Prod. 2009 Apr 3.
[Electronic publication ahead of print])

***Science: Systemic sclerosis
According to research at the University of Erlangen, Germany, a
synthetic CB2 receptor agonist reduced dermal thickening and
fibrosis, which was induced by a chemical (bleomycin).
Researchers noted that "CB2 might be an interesting molecular
target for the treatment of early inflammatory stages of systemic
sclerosis." (Source: Akhmetshina A, et al. Arthritis Rheum
2009;60(4):1129-36.)

***Science: Stroke
In an animal model of stroke a CB2 receptor agonist reduced the
consequences of reduced blood supply to the brain. Neurological
function was improved compared to a control group. This
protective effect was attributed to the attenuation of dysfunction
of the smallest brain arteries. (Source: Zhang M, et al. Microvasc
Res. 2009 Mar 27. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

***Science: Diabetes
South African researchers investigated the effects of a cannabis
extract on insulin sensitivity in insulin resistant fat cells. Insulin-
resistance, i.e. failure of cells to uptake glucose (sugar) despite
the presence of insulin, was induced using TNF-alpha. Insulin-
induced glucose uptake was increased in these cells after
exposure to the extract, which suggests an anti-diabetic effect of
the cannabis extract. (Source: Gallant M, et al. Phytomedicine.
2009 Apr 1. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

***Science: Positive affective memory
According to research at the University of Oxford, UK, a single
dose of the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant did not alter
subjective mood in 30 study participants. However, rimonabant
selectively reduced recall of positive self-relevant information, an
effect contrary to that seen following the administration of
antidepressants. Researchers concluded that "these results
suggest that a single dose of rimonabant decreases positive
emotional memory." (Source: Horder J, et al.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009 Apr 1. [Electronic publication
ahead of print])

NEW BOOK
* Michka. Cannabis Médical : du Chanvre Indien au THC de
Synthèse. Mama Editions. ISBN 978-2-84594-021-5

3.

ONE YEAR AGO:
- Spain: Positive results of a study with the cannabis extract
Sativex in Catalonia
- Science: THC effective in obsessive compulsive disorder
according to case reports
- Science: Preliminary results of a study with Sativex in
neuropathic pain due to multiple sclerosis
- Germany: Lead poisoning due to adulterated cannabis

TWO YEARS AGO:
- Italy: Government wants to allow the use of cannabis-based
medicines
- Science: The use of cannabis does not influence the efficacy of
two anti-cancer drugs, a clinical study finds

(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis-
med.org/)

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Phone: +49 (0)2952-9708571
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[Sequoiacrone]

Combining Components of Marijuana Enhances Inhibitory Effects on Brain
Cancer
http://www.newswise.com/articles/com...s-of-marijuana-
enhances-inhibitory-effects-on-brain-cancer

Released: 1/6/2010 3:00 PM EST
Embargo expired: 1/11/2010 12:05 AM EST
Source: California Pacific Medical Center

Newswise ― Combining the two most common cannabinoid compounds in
Cannabis may boost the effectiveness of treatments to inhibit the
growth of brain cancer cells and increase the number of brain cancer
cells that die off. That’s the finding of a new study published in the
latest issue of the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.

Researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
(CPMCRI) combined the non-psychoactive Cannabis compound, cannabidiol
(CBD), with Δ9-tetrahyrdocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary psychoactive
active ingredient in Cannabis. They found the combination boosts the
inhibitory effects of Δ9-THC on glioblastoma, the most common and
aggressive form of brain tumor and the cancer that claimed the life of
Sen. Ted Kennedy last year.

“Our study not only suggests that combining these two compounds creates
a synergistic effect,” says Sean McAllister, Ph.D., a scientist at
CPMCRI and the lead author of the study. “but it also helps identify
molecular mechanisms at work here, and that may lead to more effective
treatments for glioblastoma and potentially other aggressive cancers.”

Previous studies had shown that Δ9-THC was effective in inhibiting
brain cancer growth in cell cultures and in animal models and prompted
a small clinical trial in Spain. There is also evidence that other
compounds in Cannabis might prove effective against tumors, but limited
scientific evidence is available. The CPMCRI researchers screened a
number of different cannabis-based compounds before settling on CBD as
the most active one.

“Compared to using Δ9-THC alone against glioblastoma cell lines, the
combination therapy of Δ9-THC and CBD showed a significant improvement
in activity, both in slowing down the growth of those cells and also,
and perhaps more importantly, in doubling the number of cancer cells
which underwent apoptosis or programmed cell death,” says Dr.
McAllister.

The next step in the research is to carry out similar studies in animal
models of aggressive brain cancer. Even if the synergistic effect is
not evident in those studies, the combination treatments may allow for
stronger doses to be given to patients due to non-overlapping
toxicities and decrease development of resistance to the activity of
Δ9-THC or CBD alone.

Despite the promising findings of the study the researchers point out
that they are not a recommendation for people with brain cancer to
smoke marijuana. They say it is highly unlikely that effective
concentrations of either Δ9-THC or CBD could be reached by smoking
cannabis.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Health and the SETH
group.

California Pacific Medical Center. Beyond Medicine.
At San Francisco’s California Pacific Medical Center, we believe in the
power of medicine. We research the most up-to-date treatments, hire the
most qualified individuals, and practice the most modern, innovative
medicine available. We deliver the highest quality expert care, with
kindness and compassion, in acute, post-acute and outpatient services,
as well as preventive and complementary medicine. But we also believe
that medicine alone is only part of the solution. That’s why we look
intently at each individual case and treat the whole person, not just
the illness. It’s why we go beyond medical care and provide our
patients with things like disease counseling, family support and
wellness treatments. As one of California’s largest private,
community-based, not-for-profit, teaching medical centers, and a Sutter
Health affiliate, we are able to reach deep into our community to
provide education, screening and financial support in some of the
city’s most underserved neighborhoods. Medicine can transform a body.
But going beyond medicine can transform a life. www.cpmc.org