CBD and cancer: current research and uses of medical cannabis

On World Cancer Day we have prepared a post about the latest research on CBD and cancer. This post is informational and is not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Consult your doctor before using cannabis or derivatives such as CBD. Cannactiva products are not medicines.

Introduction to cannabis research in cancer

The therapeutic uses of cannabis in cancer are sufficiently supported by high-quality scientific studies. For many years, research with medical cannabis focused on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while CBD or cannabidiol attracted interest later. Even so, there is a growing body of research specifically on cannabidiol in tumour diseases.

In this blog post we will discuss basic and human research data on cannabidiol and cancer. We will also review studies on the possible applications of CBD, especially in the management of symptoms of this disease and in palliative care.

What is the relationship between cancer and cannabinoids?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of the body's cells. The human body is made up of dozens of different types of cells, which can become malignant and give rise to a tumour.

Endocannabinoid system and cancer

Tumour cells appear in all healthy people throughout their lives. But, under normal conditions, the immune system is able to destroy them, just as it does with viruses and bacteria. The endocannabinoid system is very important in this immune control over cancer cells.

Through the cannabinoid receptors, the endocannabinoid system controls cancer cell processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, migration, growth and angiogenesis / lymphangiogenesis (1). This discovery has opened the door to new treatments.

Medical cannabis in the treatment of cancer

How useful is cannabis in the treatment of cancer?

Cannabis has proven to be an effective and safe treatment for many of the symptoms that accompany cancer and cancer treatment.

Some of its possible effects are: enhancing the pain-relieving effect of opioids, reducing nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, improving sleep quality and reducing anxiety (2).

How is medical cannabis used?

Cannabis is not necessarily the only or the best treatment for every cancer patient. But there is enough scientific evidence to consider the therapeutic use of vaporised cannabis and cannabis oil.

If you are thinking of using medical cannabis to control a cancer symptom, ask your specialist about this possibility to get advice tailored to your particular case.

So, can cannabis cure cancer?

No. According to its supporters, “Rick Simpson oil” cures cancer, but the pharmaceutical industry is trying to hide this discovery. This absurd theory is based on a YouTube video, on a par with the reptilian origins of Elizabeth II or the UFO bases in Antarctica.

In general, the best results in cancer treatment are achieved by combining different approaches: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diet therapy…

Cannabinoids are one more potential tool in this regard. There are already human clinical trials using cannabis oil and chemotherapy in one type of brain tumour: glioblastoma multiforme (3).

Role of CBD in cancer treatment

What antitumour properties does CBD have?

Cannabidiol has been shown to have antitumour properties, which means it can help prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells. Studies have shown that CBD can kill certain types of cancer cells, particularly in breast cancer, prostate cancer and leukaemia (4). The mechanism behind this attack is called apoptosis and is a kind of “programmed cell suicide”.

Another characteristic antitumour mechanism demonstrated in CBD is the inhibition of angiogenesis (5). In other words, it prevents the formation of new blood vessels, which the tumour needs in order to grow and spread. Cannabidiol also has specific anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that are linked to antitumour properties (6).

In which specific tumours has CBD shown effects?

Lung (7), breast (8, 9) and prostate (10) tumours and colon cancer (11) appear to be specifically sensitive to the antitumour effect of CBD. The studies available so far have been carried out on receptors, animal models (8) and also on human cells (7).

CBD in palliative cancer care

What is palliative care in cancer?

Palliative care in cancer is treatment aimed at controlling the symptoms of the disease, such as pain relief, emotional support and improving the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer.

Use of cannabis in palliative care

Unfortunately, in cannabinoid research, patients are ahead of researchers. The use of cannabis, and more specifically CBD oil, is common among cancer patients being treated by palliative care teams.

Up to 20% of cancer patients use cannabis, according to the most recent study published in the US (12). It reports that 70% of patients felt that using CBD had helped to improve their general condition and quality of life. Specifically, the group of patients using CBD reported that it helped them with pain, appetite and insomnia. Most took it orally (sublingually), vaporised or as a cream.

What is known about the use of CBD for palliative care?

There is an ongoing clinical trial comparing the efficacy of pharmaceutical-grade CBD oil in relieving symptoms in cancer patients receiving palliative care (13).

Is CBD effective for cancer pain relief?

Cancer can cause pain due to a variety of factors, such as the cancer itself, cancer treatments and medication side effects.

The analgesic potential of cannabidiol is justified by its anti-inflammatory properties, its selective effect on neuropathic pain (pain caused by direct involvement of nerves, for example in metastases) and its interaction with the endocannabinoid system.

Many studies have looked at the analgesic potential of CBD (in fibromyalgia (14), arthritis (15) or neuropathies (16)). But no studies have specifically addressed the potential of CBD for pain in cancer patients.

There are, however, data to show that, in this group, treatment with THC and CBD gets better results than using THC alone: pain relief is greater and adverse effects are less significant (17).

CBD for nausea and vomiting

Is CBD effective for cancer-related nausea and vomiting?

In cancer patients, nausea and vomiting is a frequent symptom that significantly affects their quality of life. These symptoms may appear as a consequence of the disease or, more frequently, as a side effect of some types of chemotherapy.

CBD is a therapeutic option to help reduce nausea and vomiting associated with cancer and chemotherapy. Studies have shown that CBD can reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

Sublingual THC / CBD oil has proven to be a safe and effective treatment in these circumstances. Not many studies have investigated the potential of cannabidiol on its own for controlling vomiting and nausea. However, given its mechanism of action, it is reasonable to assume that CBD by itself has a significant effect on nausea and vomiting (18, 19).

In addition, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), the precursor of CBD (the acid form of CBD) that occurs naturally in the plant (when not burnt), has shown a very selective potential against nausea and vomiting (19). One way to obtain CBDA would be through low-temperature vaporisation devices.

CBD and cancer drugs (chemotherapy)

Does CBD interact with drugs used in cancer?

Studies conducted so far indicate a possible potentiation of the effect of many drugs used in chemotherapy. There are also some combinations that may not be suitable, such as the combination of CBD + cisplatin and the concomitant use of CBD + carboplatin (20).

CBD dosage in cancer

What dose of cannabidiol would be appropriate in cancer?

Cannabidiol, like any other cannabis-derived product, should not be taken without specialist professional advice. We recommend that you ask your doctor whether medical cannabis is suitable for you, and which of the available options are most appropriate.

For information only, we can say that the limited data from human research have used a daily dose of 100-600 mg of CBD orally or sublingually (12-13) to treat symptoms associated with cancer.

How many drops of CBD oil for cancer?

While there is promising research on the potential benefits of CBD for cancer treatment, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand its efficacy and safety.

Once again, we stress the importance of consulting a healthcare professional before using cannabidiol products for cancer, as it may interact with other medicines and cause side effects.

We remind you that this is an informative article that is not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Consult your doctor before using CBD. Cannactiva products are not medicines. Its content can complement, but never replace, the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom.