Dr Wai Liu - the cutting edge of cannabis cancer research
07/15/20 • 61 min
In Episode 14 of Cannabis Voices I speak to Dr Wai Liu, Senior Research Fellow at St George's, University of London who after a chance conversation with an oncologist, came to specialise in studying the anticancer effects of the cannabis plant.
Not only has Dr Liu's work, which is so far preclinical, highlighted the exciting antitumoral effects of CBD and THC in particular, but is has shown how having an on/off sequence of cannabinoid treatment can increase the compounds' cancer cell killing effects.
Dr Liu and his colleagues have also found that depending on the type of cancer, the order of cannabinoids and chemotherapy/radiotherapy may vary in order to achieve maximum cancer cell death.
But perhaps the most fascinating insight we discuss, which still remains anecdotal, involves a number of cases where breast cancer patients have self-administered CBD oil in the weeks before starting their cancer treatment. In one striking example (which features in my book 'The CBD Book: The Essential Guide to CBD Oil'), a patient's tumour shrank by two thirds just by taking over the counter CBD oil. With the agreement of her oncology team and while her cancer remained stable, the patient could manage her breast cancer with CBD.
This podcast is required listening for anyone wanting to understand the anticancer potential of cannabis from a scientific perspective.
Resources:
Anticancer effects of phytocannabinoids used with chemotherapy in leukaemia cells can be improved by altering the sequence of their administration, Dr Wai Liu
Enhancing the activity of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids in vitro through modifications to drug combinations and treatment schedules, Dr Wai Liu
Report of Objective Clinical Responses of Cancer Patients to Pharmaceutical-grade Synthetic Cannabidiol, Julian Kenyon
In Episode 14 of Cannabis Voices I speak to Dr Wai Liu, Senior Research Fellow at St George's, University of London who after a chance conversation with an oncologist, came to specialise in studying the anticancer effects of the cannabis plant.
Not only has Dr Liu's work, which is so far preclinical, highlighted the exciting antitumoral effects of CBD and THC in particular, but is has shown how having an on/off sequence of cannabinoid treatment can increase the compounds' cancer cell killing effects.
Dr Liu and his colleagues have also found that depending on the type of cancer, the order of cannabinoids and chemotherapy/radiotherapy may vary in order to achieve maximum cancer cell death.
But perhaps the most fascinating insight we discuss, which still remains anecdotal, involves a number of cases where breast cancer patients have self-administered CBD oil in the weeks before starting their cancer treatment. In one striking example (which features in my book 'The CBD Book: The Essential Guide to CBD Oil'), a patient's tumour shrank by two thirds just by taking over the counter CBD oil. With the agreement of her oncology team and while her cancer remained stable, the patient could manage her breast cancer with CBD.
This podcast is required listening for anyone wanting to understand the anticancer potential of cannabis from a scientific perspective.
Resources:
Anticancer effects of phytocannabinoids used with chemotherapy in leukaemia cells can be improved by altering the sequence of their administration, Dr Wai Liu
Enhancing the activity of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids in vitro through modifications to drug combinations and treatment schedules, Dr Wai Liu
Report of Objective Clinical Responses of Cancer Patients to Pharmaceutical-grade Synthetic Cannabidiol, Julian Kenyon
Previous Episode
Michelle Kendall - why I'm using cannabis to treat my cancer
Michelle Kendall is a woman on a mission and with a fire in her belly.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Michelle has been successfully using cannabis alongside chemotherapy and surgery to manage her cancer.
As a lover of data, Michelle has been meticulously recording the results from her blood tests. Turns out, taking cannabis oil high in THC reduced the cancer markers in her blood and shrunk her tumour, far more than the conventional treatment she was taking.
So she began to dig deep into cannabinoid research, in particular how through cannabis she might activate the healing potential of the endocannabinoid system.
Michelle was incredulous that we are so far away from cannabis becoming an approved anticancer drug, much in part to the regulatory restrictions on researching the plant. So she decided to make a film about it - and so Schedule 1 - a documentary short about cannabis and cancer - was born.
I strongly recommend checking out Michelle's film - available for free here online.
You can follow/contact her on twitter: @schedule1movie
Resources:
Great talk by Dr Dedi Meiri explaining his groundbreaking cannabinoid research for different types of cancer.
Next Episode
Dr Callie Seaman - cannabis, epilepsy and me
Dr Callie Seaman has a unique voice in the cannabis industry. Diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, it was Callie's dad who suggested she try cannabis as an alternative to the prescription meds that were wrecking her academic career.
This started a life long relationship with cannabis which included Callie working in the local grow shop as a Saturday girl while finishing her degree.
And yet, Callie never considered herself a medical cannabis patient and spent most of her life in denial she had epilepsy at all.
However, the reality soon dawned on Callie when she stopped smoking cannabis recreationally during her PhD and her seizures came back.
Callie went on to be founding director of Aqua Laboratories – a formulator and producer of specialist hydroponic nutrients - and yet she still felt a sense of shame about using cannabis to treat her epilepsy.
Thankfully, Callie has now embraced both her epilepsy (now called George) and is a passionate advocate and educator for the medicinal use of cannabis.
Check out Callie's social media below to see her video series 'George and I.'
Instagram: @dr.callieseaman
Facebook: @DrCallieSeaman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-callieseaman/
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