There may be hopeful news on the horizon for those who have pancreatic cancer—and it stems from a chemical found in the cannabis plant.
With a five-year survival rate of just nine percent, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), pancreatic cancer is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States by 2020.
However, the positive news is that a recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard University’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and published in the Frontiers of Oncology, has found that FBL-03G, described as a “non-cannabinoid, non-psychoactive derivative of cannabis,” has “significant therapy potential” in treating the disease.
According to Chelsea Ritschel, reporting for The Independent, FBL-03G is a derivative of a cannabis “flavonoid.“ Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, fruits and vegetables, which are known to have certain health benefits. The takeaway from the Harvard study is that FBL-03G may one day be used to treat both localised and advanced pancreatic cancer.
One of the study’s researchers, Dr Wilfred Ngwa, recently told Yahoo, “The most significant conclusion is that tumour-targeted delivery of flavonoids, derived from cannabis, enabled both local and metastatic tumour cell kill, significantly increasing survival from pancreatic cancer.” He believes this has major significance, given that pancreatic cancer is often unresponsive to existing therapies.
Dr Ngwa contends that the study suggests the flavonoid derivative is capable of attacking other cancer cells and stopping their growth. Said Ngwa,”We were quite surprised that the drug could inhibit the growth of cancer cells in other parts of the body, representing metastasis, that were not targeted by the treatment.” Ultimately, this would mean extending the life expectancy of those with pancreatic cancer, which is often diagnosed when it is in a later stage and has already spread.
As is often the case with pharmaceutical research, it could be a while before the results of the study lead to the development of an actual drug. However, members of the research team have recommended further studies with the ultimate goal of clinical translation. The next step for researchers is pre-clinical studies, which Dr. Ngwa hopes will be completed by 2020
You can learn more by reading Chelsea Ritschel’s insightful article in the August 21, 2019 issue of The Independent.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/cannabis-chemical-pancreatic-cancer-flavonoid-treatment-a
Science and Health
When it comes to testing the potency of cannabis edibles there is something about chocolate that seems to take a bite out of the results.
That’s the word from David Dawson, chemist and lead researcher at CW Analytical Laboratories in Oakland, California. The lab conducts a variety of tests on marijuana. Dawson found that there is something about chocolate that affects the lab’s ability to measure the cannabinoids in a batch of marijuana.
Dawson, who is scheduled to present his findings in a paper delivered at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, says the more chocolate in the batch being tested, the less accurate the results. In an interview with Associated Press reporter Carla K. Johnson, Dawson said that he suspects some of the THC may be clinging to the fat in the chocolate, essentially hiding it.
Such a finding could have significant implications for consumers, regulators and producers of edible products.
According to Dawson, cannabis potency testing is a high stakes game. That’s because there’s a California law that stipulates edible marijuana products that test 10 percent below what’s indicated on the label must be relabeled. If the product tests 10 percent or more above the labeled amount then the entire batch must be destroyed. Either alternative can be expensive and time consuming. Plus, a mislabeled batch could present the consumer with the chance of under- or overdosing on commercially prepared edibles. This can have negative consequences for a company’s reliability and bottom line.
To learn more, read Carla K. Johnson’s article in the August 26, 2019 issue of the AP News and Kyle Jaeger’s reporting in the August 25 issue of the Marijuana Moment website.
https://www.apnews.com/8899379ff7f64a9c912862c9405cf801
Ask The Pharmacist
In this issue, consultation pharmacist Jay Sochoka tackles the question of what kind of experience mature consumers can expect from different strains of cannabis
As a consultation pharmacist, patients often ask which medication is going to be the best one to treat their particular needs. Like other branches of medicine, there is no one size fits all answer. I always aim to get the regimen as close to right as possible, but it may require a few tweaks in order to perfect it. What works well for one patient may not work for another or may work in the complete opposite manner. Paradoxical pharmacology is not uncommon in cannabis medicine, which is important to keep in mind when recommending a treatment plan. There are general rules that apply to dosing different strains, but the results can vary in a given patient population and remembering this is essential.
There are three main groups of cannabis strains: sativa, indica, and hybrids. The sativa category produces products that may provide energy, increased focus and feelings of well-being, ranging from uplifted to euphoric. This category is not the optimal choice for every individual. For instance, patients with severe anxiety should avoid sativas, at least initially (if not entirely), until they are more familiar with the effects of THC. My personal experience as a medical cannabis patient supports this sentiment.
Indica (short for their original breeding grounds of India and Central Asia) strains may produce feelings of well-being, calm and relaxation. Many individuals prefer to use these strains in the evening, especially if they find they aid with sleep. However, this general rule is not applicable to all patients and some may choose to use Indica during the daytime if their alertness is not decreased. Indica strains are sometimes useful for decreasing baseline anxiety during the daytime and aiding with relaxation at nighttime. Once again, what works for some can work differently, if at all, for others.
Hybrids are plants bred with the aim of delivering combination effects of both sativas and indicas. Hybrids may lead to feeling uplifted and relieved of pain and/or anxiety without inducing anxiety or sedation. Hybrids are a good starting point for most patients.
My pharmaceutical experience has demonstrated that combination approaches are often the most useful. In fact, using different strains and blends of cannabis plant to achieve additive effects is often very successful in achieving treatment goals. This method allows terpenes or naturally occurring oils found in cannabis to work with the most prevalent phytocannabinoids inherent in the cannabis plant, THC and CBD, to modify the pharmacological effects. This approach has worked well for me, personally. Different terpenes may lead to varying levels of pain relief, anxiety reduction and mental clarity. We will examine terpenes in more detail in future articles.
Regarding the question of what strain is best for a qualifying patient in a given disease state, the answer is, simply, that there is not just one answer. Responses to the same strain can produce vastly different effects in different people. I have seen people stimulated on indicas and sleeping on sativas. It is a matter of personal preference, which can only be determined by modifying the regimen based on patient feedback and regular consultation. While the general rules of sativa and indica apply to a good part of the patient population, there are always exceptions and this is key in developing a treatment plan that is individualized for every patient’s needs.
Jay Sochoka, R.Ph., MCP is a consultation pharmacist at Columbia Care dispensary in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
CBD Celebrity Spotlight
A recently retired NFL all star is about to tackle the world of CBD. Three-time all star tight end Rob Gronkowski has announced he is partnering with Abacus Health to launch a line of CBD products. The company makes CBDMedic, a line of topical pain and skincare medications developed to provide safe, natural, and temporary relief.
A five-time Pro Bowler and four-time First Team All-Pro while playing for the New England Patriots, Gronkowski retired following the 2018 season, just ahead of his 30th birthday. He had been battling a wide range of injuries for years, including back, knee and quad ailments.
Writing in the August 21 issue of Bleacher Report, Mike Chiari reports that the potential future Hall of Famer turned to CBD oil after suffering a quad injury in the Pats’ Super Bowl LIII win over the Los Angeles Rams last season.
Gronkowski credits CBD, which was introduced to him by his dad, for relieving the pain from his injury and believes it’s the safest “alternative way players can deal with pain.” Gronkowski says he’ll be using his status as a sports celebrity to convince professional sports leagues to loosen their restrictions on CBD products and recognize CBD as a legitimate method of treatment for pain.
According to Dan Roche, reporting in the August 27 issue of CBSBoston.com, Gronkowski believes the products changed his life. “I immediately made CBDMedic part of my recovery,” Gronkowski said of his post-retirement treatment. “And now for the first time in more than a decade, I am pain-free. And that is a big deal.”
Gronkowski also announced a new name for himself. “Now, you can just call me Mr. Recovery,” He said. “You know you like that name. Mr. Recovery, baby!”
To learn more, visit Mike Chiari’s article in the August 27, 2019 issue of Bleacher Report and Dan Roche’s story in the August 27, 2019 edition of BostonCBSLocal.com
Research News and Notes
In what’s been described as a “historic victory,” the Justice Department has reversed a long-held stance and announced it will take action on applications it has received to expand the number of sites certified to grow marijuana plants.
It is believed this will improve access to legal marijuana for medical and scientific researchers. Many believe the decision was motivated by a lawsuit brought by researchers.
In a notice filed in the Federal Register, the Drug Enforcement Administration acknowledged it had dozens of applications from potential growers. DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon said the agency is “making progress in the program to register additional marijuana growers for federally authorized research, and will work with other relevant federal agencies to expedite the necessary next steps.” The DEA also said it plans to propose new regulations for growers before making a determination about pending applications.
Attorney General William Barr said he is “pleased that DEA is moving forward with its review of applications for those who seek to grow marijuana legally to support research.”
Presently, as part of a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, all marijuana used for federally approved researchers must be supplied by the University of Mississippi.
The Phoenix-based Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI), which researches medical uses of cannabis, filed suit in June, asking the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to order the DEA and attorney general to process its application. SRI’s principal investigator, Dr. Sue Sisley, said “poor-quality” marijuana was getting in the way of future research.
She completed the first randomized trial of “whole plant” marijuana to treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) earlier this year, using marijuana obtained from the University of Mississippi. The cannabis she used for the second phase of the study, the results of which have not yet been published, arrived in powder form. Some samples contained mold and others were diluted with stems and leaves. She said the quality of the samples was a far cry from the marijuana available for sale in states where it’s already legal for recreational use under state law.
“We have a situation where there [are] thousands of different phenotypes of cannabis being sold throughout the regulated market, the illicit market, and that’s the material that we would like to work with,” Sisley said, adding that scientists want to understand or be able to use what patients are using in the real world because patients are claiming to have these transformative experiences with cannabis.
Support for more and better research on marijuana is growing. Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent letters to the DEA urging the agency to resolve the outstanding applications. Also, a 2018 survey of 4,600 veterans found 72 percent of respondents said cannabis should be researched for medicinal uses. IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler said many veterans are already using marijuana to treat issues such as chronic pain and symptoms related to PTSD.
You can learn more by reading Anna Gunther’s detailed article in the August 26, 2019 issue of CBS News.com.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com or by calling 347-528-8753.