delta9THC (from marijuana) shown to upregulate her2 in ER+ bc cell line

[Lani]

Toxicology. 2007 Dec 28 [Epub ahead of print]
Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol enhances MCF-7 cell proliferation via cannabinoid receptor-independent signaling.

Takeda S, Yamaori S, Motoya E, Matsunaga T, Kimura T, Yamamoto I, Watanabe K.
Organization for Frontier Research in Preventive Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan.
We recently reported that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) has the ability to stimulate the proliferation of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. However, the mechanism of action remains to be clarified. The present study focused on the relationship between receptor expression and the effects of Delta(9)-THC on cell proliferation. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that there was no detectable expression of CB receptors in MCF-7 cells. In accordance with this, no effects of cannabinoid 1/2 (CB1/2) receptor antagonists and pertussis toxin on cell proliferation were observed. Although MCF-7 cell proliferation is suggested to be suppressed by Delta(9)-THC in the presence of CB receptors, it was revealed that Delta(9)-THC could exert upregulation of living cells in the absence of the receptors. Interestingly, Delta(9)-THC upregulated human epithelial growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) expression, which is known to be a predictive factor of human breast cancer and is able to stimulate cancer cells as well as MCF-7 cells. Actinomycin D-treatment interfered with the upregulation of HER2 and cell proliferation by cannabinoid. Taken together, these studies suggest that, in the absence of CB receptors, Delta(9)-THC can stimulate the proliferation of MCF-7 cells by modulating, at least in part, HER2 transcription.
PMID: 18249480 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Jean]

This report is very worrisome for our young generation. Often the college
age student may expperiment with this drug...thinking it is harmless...
Lani as we are hearing that breast cancer takes years to develop, and we are seeing younger women being dx., I am wondering if this is part of the environment that is in fact a contributor?

As always thank you for this interesting and informative post.
Kind Regards,
Jean

[chrisy]

reefer madness - worse than we thought

[Jean]

Lani,
Found this and now I am thinking what about those who have her2+

Marihuana
Shrinks Lung Cancer Tumors
Harvard researcher Anju Preet says a compound in Marihuana THC cut lung tumor growth in half in lab animals and help prevent metastasis in others. Preet says THC boosting anit-inflammatory properties of endocannabinoids found on lung cancer cells. After injections of THC
mouse tumors shrank about 50% in three weeks compared to untreated tumors.

Have you heard anything about this research?

Kind Regards,
Jean

Jjjjj(RRC - 2007) -- Harvard researcher Anju Preet says a compound in marihuana, THC, cut lung tumor growth in half in lab animals and helped preve Harvard researcher Anju Preet says a compound in marihuana, THC,nt metastasis in others.RRC - 2007) -- Harvard researcher Anju Preet says a compound in marihuana, THC, cut lung tumor growth in half in lab animals and helped prevent metastasis in others. Preet says THC boosting anti-inflammatory properties of endocannabinoids found on lung cancer cells.

After injections of THC mouse tumors shrank about 50 percent in three weeks compared to untreated tumors.

Other research suggests THC also could help fight brain, prostate, and skin cancers Preet says THC boosting anti-inflammatory properties of endocannabinoids found on lung cancer cells.

Marihuana
Shrinks Lung Cancer Tumors

(RRC - 2007) -- Harvard researcher Anju Preet says a compound in marihuana, THC, cut lung tumor growth in half in lab animals and helped prevent metastasis in others. Preet says THC boosting anti-inflammatory properties of endocannabinoids found on lung cancer cells.

After injections of THC mouse tumors shrank about 50 percent in three weeks compared to untreated tumors.

Other research suggests THC also could help fight brain, prostate, and skin cancers.

After injections of THC mouse tumors shrank about 50 percent in three weeks compared to untreated tumors.

Other research suggests THC also could help fight brain, prostate, and skin cancers.

[Lani]

time:

found these by using her2 search function:

Shall We All Go To Pot?
MJo
11-23-2007 09:12 AM
by fauxgypsy
16 484 her2group

Marijuana Compound Shows Promise in Fighting Breast Cancer
News
11-20-2007 01:21 AM
by News
0 65 Breast Cancer News

[Jen]

Wow........

[hutchibk]

If the research that Lani posted: ... "We recently reported that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) has the ability to stimulate the proliferation of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells"...
pans out to have legs in the course of future research,

then no, it would not be considered "good for you". Especially if you have an overexpression of HER2 or have a propensity for HER2. As Jean mentioned, this could be very worrisome for the younger generation of women who use marijuana...

[Joanne S]

Maybe if I smoked pot, I wouldn't be confused.
Please advise. It's all Japanese to me.
What is Actinomycin D-treatment ? Antibiotic?
What is upregulation of HER2?
What is modulating HER2 transcription?
What does this mean? Actinomycin D-treatment interfered with the upregulation of HER2 and cell proliferation by cannabinoid. Taken together, these studies suggest that, in the absence of CB receptors, Delta(9)-THC can stimulate the proliferation of MCF-7 cells by modulating, at least in part, HER2 transcription.<!-- / message -->
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
then PubMed 18249480
and related articles
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ractPlusDrugs1



Maybe the scientists are smoking pot.

No, no thank you---I'll pass!

Make room on the confusion couch And Please pass the potato chips!


Breast cancer finding revives debate on hash A study is called Inhibition of Breast Cancer Aggressiveness and was presented at the California Breast Cancer Research Symposium in September 2007. The researcher said, “Right now we have a limited range of options in treating aggressive forms of cancer. Those treatments, such as chemotherapy, can be effective. But, they can also be extremely painful for patients. They are often toxic and difficult. This compound offers the hope of a non-toxic therapy that could achieve the same results without any of the painful side effects." Fox News, which has had exclusive interviews with the researchers, said, “ . . . what is exciting about this study is that if CBD can inhibit Id-1 in breast cancer cells, then it may also prove effective at stopping the spread of cancer cells in other forms of the disease, such as colon and brain or prostate cancer."
http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=127985


Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew in '74
<!-- end: headline --><!-- start: byline -->By Raymond Cushing, AlterNet. Posted May 31, 2000.
http://www.alternet.org/story/9257/



According to the National Cancer Institute
Marijuana Use in Supportive Care for Cancer Patients
Dronabinol (Marinol®), a synthetic form of the active marijuana constituent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is available by prescription for use as an antiemetic. In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its use for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who had not responded to the standard antiemetic drugs.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f...port/marijuana


Science Daily
CBD, a compound found in Cannabis sativa, could be the first non-toxic agent to show promise in treating metastatic forms of breast cancer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1123211703.htm





Cannabis Compound May Prevent Aggressive Breast Cancer Spread
Saturday November 24, 2007
http://breastcancer.about.com/b/2007...cer-spread.htm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312132,00.html?
http://www.cpmc.org/professionals/re...ence/sean.html

[Jen]

I have always believed that marijuana should be legalized.