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News in Cannabinoid Research

Franjo Grotenhermennova-Institut, HürthIACM, Cologne (Colonia)

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TopicsI Tourette‘s syndromeII Antineoplastic properties

(anti-cancer effects)

III IACM International Association for Cannabis as Medicine

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I. Tourette‘s syndromeGilles de la Tourette‘s SyndromeComplex neurological-psychiatric disorder Permanently changing motor ticsAt least one vocal tic Disturbed behaviour (autoaggression, disturbed attention) No satisfactory therapy

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Photos taken from:

Hartung S. "... sonst bin ich ganz normal" - Leben mit dem Tourette-Syndrom. Rasch und Röhring Verlag, 1995.

Course of a TS attack

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Study on TSPlacebo-controlled study (Medical School of Hannover)24 patientsDuration: 6 weeksDose: 7.5 – 10.0 mg 9-THC

Müller-Vahl KR, et al. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is effective in the treatment of tics in Tourette-Syndrome: a 6-week randomized trial. (zur Veröffentlichung eingereicht)

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Yale Global Tic Severity Scale

(THC-Dosis =/> 7,5mg)

° = p<0,10

Studientag

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de

run

g (

- T

ag

0)

10

0

-10

-20

THC

Placebo

p = 0.077

°

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Global Clinical Impression Scale

(THC-Dosis =/> 7,5mg)

* = p < 0,05

Studientag

+5 Wo+1 Tag30-3120-229

Änd

erun

g (-

Tag

0)

,1

0,0

-,1

-,2

-,3

-,4

-,5

-,6-,7

THC

Placebo

p = 0,079

* **

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II. Antineoplastic propertiesLong-term survival of rats (Chan et al. 1996)Treatment of glioma (malignant brain tumour) in rats with THC and a synthetic cannabinoid (Galve-Roperph 2000)Clinical study with THC in malignant glioma in Spain (since 2002)

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Long-term survival of ratsGroups of 60 to 70 rats and miceDose for rats: no THC, 5 mg, 15 mg or 50 mg per kg body weightDose for mice: no THC, 125 mg, 250 mg or 500 mg per kg body weight5 x per week for 2 years

Chan PC, et al. Toxicity and carcinogenicity of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in Fischer rats and B6C3F1 mice. Fundam Appl Toxicol 1996;30(1):109-117.

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46

74

68

66

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

no THC

5 mg

15 mg

50 mg

Survival rates for rats after 2 years (Chan et al. 1996)

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Tumour rates after 2 years (Chan et al. 1996)

88

15

40

31

16

77

1

27

22

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Testes (male rats)

Pancreas (male rats)

Pineal gland (male rats)

Breast (female rats)

Uterus (female rats)with THC

without THC

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Glioma therapy in rats

45 rats with malignant glioma15 treated with THC, 15 with WIN-55,212-2, 15 without treatmentCannabinoids cured 1/3 of the rats and prolonged survival in another 1/3

Galve-Roperh I, et al. Anti-tumoral action of cannabinoids: involvement of sustained ceramide accumulation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. Nat Med 2000;6(3):313-319.

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0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

THC

WIN-55,212-2

No treatmentEarly death (< 18 days)

Prolonged survival (19-43 days)

Cure

Treatment results – cannabinoids in glioma of rats

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Clinical study in gliomaHospital of La Laguna (Tenerife) 5 patients with glioblastoma multiforme; later more patientsPhase-I/II study to find out the best doseTHC for 2-8 weeksDirect application at the tumour (operation)Aim: Prolonged survival

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III. IACM

Founded in March 2000Mainly members of the German ACMTwo regional sections, German ACM and Austrian CAMRegular members and associate members

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Aims of the IACMThe IACM is a scientific society

advocating the improvement of the legal situation for the use of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.) and its pharmacologically most important active compounds, the cannabinoids, for therapeutic applications through promotion of research and dissemination of information.

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Regional sectionsMembers of one or several nations may

found a regional section to deal with regional affairs. The sections may elect their own representatives and choose their own regulations. In regional sections all members may have equal rights and decide on the guidelines of the work, analogous to the ACM in the German language region. Existing national organisations may become a member of the IACM, if goals and principles are congruent.

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