The research study “Antitumour Mechanism of Cannabidiol Hidden Behind Cancer Hallmarks” published by Yan, Li, Liu, Chen, and Wu in the Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Reviews on Cancer in 2023, delves into the potential anticancer properties of cannabidiol (CBD). The researchers conducted an extensive review, shedding light on how CBD might interact with cancer cells.
Understanding CBD and Its Potential Anticancer Properties
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound derived from the cannabis plant that has been increasingly studied for its potential health benefits. The researchers focus on the potential anticancer properties of CBD, highlighting its role in inhibiting growth and proliferation, promoting cell death, preventing angiogenesis, and other critical mechanisms that may deter the spread of cancer. The study found, however, that the effectiveness of CBD’s antitumour properties can be influenced by variables such as cell type, drug concentration, and the level of oxidative stress.
Mechanisms of CBD’s Anticancer Properties
CBD appears to act on several biological features of tumour cells. The researchers found that “CBD involves several tumour-acquired biological features, including inhibition of growth and proliferation, promotion of death, prevention of angiogenesis, inhibition of cancer cell invasion and metastasis, enhancement of antitumour immunity, and inhibition of tumour-relevant inflammation.” These effects are mediated through complex signalling routes in the human body.
Selective Impact on Cancer Cells Over Healthy Cells
The study pointed out an interesting dichotomy: CBD has been found to be more potent against neoplasms or cancer cells compared to healthy cells. “Neoplasms typically exhibit greater susceptibility to CBD therapy than healthy cells,” the authors wrote. For instance, leukaemia and glioma cells are more sensitive to CBD-induced apoptosis than healthy cells. The ability of CBD to target tumor cells over healthy cells is an incredible feature that makes CBD a highly desirable cancer treatment.
The Role of CBD in ROS and ER Stress
One of the potential mechanisms through which CBD exerts its anticancer properties involves the triggering of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in tumour cells. This could lead to a cascade of signals resulting in cell death. “CBD plays a vital role in triggering ROS and ER stress in tumour cells, which possibly results in the signal cascade death pathway,” the researchers noted.
CBD and Autophagy
A controversial area of study involves CBD’s role in mediating autophagy, a cellular process involved in the removal of unnecessary or dysfunctional components. The study acknowledges that “CBD might mediate autophagic protection in glioblastoma,” but this needs further clarification.
CBD’s Potential in Immune Regulation
CBD also exhibits significant potential in immune regulation, particularly in the inflammation-cancer transition. The researchers propose that advanced biological techniques such as organoids could be used in future studies to simulate immune cell activation in the presence of neoplastic cell infiltration.
Potential Risks and Challenges
Despite the promising findings, the study also highlights potential risks associated with CBD. “Extensive long-term CBD use may lead to DNA damage and aberrations in humans,” the researchers caution. They also raise the issue of high expression of certain up-regulatory targets of CBD being associated with poor prognosis in some cancers.
Future Directions for CBD Research
The researchers conclude that while the anticancer effects of CBD are promising, further preclinical and clinical trials are needed to refine the understanding of its mechanism of action and to explore potential combinational therapies with first-line anticancer agents.
Study Conclusions
The authors succinctly summarise their work in the study’s Conclusion section:
“CBD exhibits broad prospects as an antitumour agent in this review. We reveal the tumoricidal mechanism behind cancer hallmarks and present the key directions for future work. Although effective anticancer therapy with CBD has been established, given the safety of clinical applications, a large number of preclinical and clinical trials are still essential to refine its anticancer mechanism map and explore its combinational therapy with other first-line anticancer agents.”
Final Thoughts
The findings of Yan, Li, Liu, Chen, and Wu’s research present an exciting pathway towards potential cancer treatments that incorporate CBD. While much is known about CBD’s anticancer mechanisms, there is still a world of knowledge yet to be discovered. Like any medical intervention, the application of CBD in cancer treatment should be approached with caution, ensuring its benefits outweigh any potential risks.
This 2023 study adds to a growing body of research examining CBD’s potential role in cancer treatment, providing a foundation for future studies to build upon. It reinforces the importance of continued exploration in this field and offers hope for advancements in cancer treatment.
Reference
Yan, C., Li, Y., Liu, H., Chen, D. and Wu, J., 2023. Antitumor mechanism of cannabidiol hidden behind cancer hallmarks. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Reviews on Cancer, p.188905.