Peer Reviewed Article
A recent study from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem tested the effects of 24 different cannabis extracts on head and neck cancer cells.1 According to the publication, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (mouth and throat cancer) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is usually caused by alcohol and tobacco consumption, however, there has been little advancement in treatments.
The cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa), is known for producing medically important compounds called cannabinoids that act on the endocannabinoid system. Given the recent evidence showing that the endocannabinoid system is involved in cell division, the researchers sought to test various cannabis extracts as a treatment against mouth and throat cancer cells.
Twenty-four different cannabis plant full-spectrum extracts were tested in their natural and decarboxylated forms. Some extracts contained high amounts of THC, while others were high in CBD or an equal amount of the two major cannabinoids. The extracts were tested on four types of oral cancer cells at a variety of concentrations.
The initial screening showed that the decarboxylated high-CBD extracts were most effective at reducing the viability of the cancer cells. The researchers then examined the mode of action and found that the CBD extract causes the cancer cells to die via apoptosis-induced cell death in a dosage dependent manner. At 4-6 µg/mL, it took 72 hours for the cells to die, but at 8 µg/mL, the extract was effective after just 24 hours.
Importantly, the extract was tested on non-cancer cells which were found to be resistant to the apoptotic effect showing that the cannabis CBD extract targets cancer cells specifically depending on the dose and duration of treatment.
To find out if there were any other active cannabinoids involved, the full-spectrum CBD extract was split into four fractions represented by THC, CBD, CBC and CBDV. While the CBD fraction alone could induce apoptosis of the cancer cells, the effect was sped up when combined with THC and CBC. When the synergy of the CBD-THC and CBD-CBC combinations was analysed, the CBD-CBC combo had a much higher synergy score with an optimal ratio of 2:1. The CBD-CBC 2:1 combination was then tested against the cancer cells and found to be twice as effective compared to the CBD full-spectrum extract. For comparison, the full-spectrum extract was more effective than isolated CBD alone.
This study showed that not only can cannabis extracts provide treatment against malignant cancer cells in addition to the palliative benefits of medicinal cannabis, but also that they are safe for non-cancer cells. Additionally, the research provides more evidence for the entourage effect where the combination of cannabis compounds is purported to have increased therapeutic benefits compared to individual cannabinoids alone.
Ironically, this peer reviewed study shows that long-prohibited cannabis medicines can effectively treat cancers caused by substances that have been legal for decades. The development of a topical formula for future application to mouth and throat cancer lesions is an interesting prospect for the cannabis industry and one that could greatly impact the lives of cancer patients and their families.
References
- Blal K, Besser E, Procaccia S, Schwob O, Lerenthal Y, Abu Tair J, Meiri D, Benny O. The Effect of Cannabis Plant Extracts on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Quest for Cannabis-Based Personalized Therapy. Cancers. 2023; 15(2):497. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15020497