Compounds found in marijuana, including THC and CBD, show “promising potential as anti-cancer agents,” according to a recent review of the scientific literature. A study by an international team of researchers has discovered several ways in which compounds in cannabis may affect cancer, including inhibiting tumor growth and spread, among other benefits. Masu.
Compounds found in marijuana, including THC and CBD, show “promising potential as anticancer agents,” according to a recent review of scientific literature…(+)
getty
To complete the review, nine researchers from universities in Pakistan, Portugal, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Romania, and South Korea compiled several online databases of scientific literature examining the link between cannabis and cancer. I searched for it. The authors' research “focused on peer-reviewed articles, review articles, and clinical trials discussing the anticancer properties of cannabinoids.” To be included in the review, papers had to be written in English and include information on “the mechanisms of action and clinical effects of cannabinoids in cancer.”
In an analysis published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Discover Oncology, researchers found that cannabinoids, including delta-9 THC, cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG), “can act as anticancer agents through a variety of mechanisms. It was judged to show “promising potential.”
“Cannabinoids, including Δ9-THC, CBD, and CBG, exhibit important anticancer activities, including apoptosis induction, autophagy stimulation, cell cycle arrest, antiproliferation, antiangiogenesis, and metastasis inhibition,” the researchers wrote. , online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported Monday. “Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids in tumor regression and health improvement in palliative care.”
The researchers found ample evidence of anti-cancer properties in cannabis, but noted that it is not clear exactly what confers these benefits.
“Despite the anti-cancer properties of cannabinoids being evident from numerous experimental results, the exact mechanism of action still requires extensive research,” the review notes.
The researchers concluded that, “Despite the positive results of cannabinoid use in cancer treatment, our knowledge of the mechanisms of action of cannabinoids, their impact on the tumor microenvironment, and the physiology of the signaling pathways they affect “There remains a large gap,” he added.
The authors noted that cannabis has been used medicinally for centuries, “particularly in Asian and South Asian countries.” But they also highlight the challenges researchers and clinicians face today in harnessing the medicinal properties of cannabis, including its well-known psychoactive effects, regulatory hurdles, and the need for further research into optimal dosing. He also admitted that he was facing
“Expanding our understanding of cannabinoid mechanisms and interactions with cancer cells will allow us to better exploit the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in oncology,” the researchers concluded.
More research needed on cancer and cannabis
Dr. Benjamin Caplan, cannabis expert and author of the Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook, said after reading this review, “The science is really cool.”
Caplan explained in an email: “This review shows that cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and CBG induce apoptosis (self-destruction of cells), reduce cell proliferation, inhibit angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), and regulate cellular state. It is emphasized that it exhibits significant anti-cancer effects due to its “immune response.” ”
This review also demonstrates the need for continued research on cannabinoids and cancer, including controlled randomized trials to develop standardized treatment protocols. Existing studies “observe large differences in efficacy based on concentration, type of cannabinoid, and type of cancer,” Caplan noted. “For example, THC can have both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on breast cancer cell proliferation, depending on the receptor activation pathway.”
“Cannabinoids interact with multiple pathways and in some cases can cause unintended tumor-promoting effects,” he wrote. “This review suggests caution, as these mechanisms are not fully understood and require further investigation. Indeed, the endocannabinoid system is one of the pivotal 'drivers' of physiological function. , but which factors stimulate or inhibit that effect have not yet been determined. ”
