CBD may fight aggressive brain cancer : Promising study suggests
CBD Against Brain Cancer
The results of a new study examining cancer cells from the human and canine brain suggest that cannabidiol (or CBD) may be a useful therapy for some difficult-to-treat brain cancers.
The isolate and CBD extract can slow growth and kill cancer cells. Note that CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from cannabis.
The study looked at glioblastoma, an often deadly form of brain cancer. It develops and spreads very quickly. Even with major advances in its treatment, the survival rate for this cancer has not improved significantly.
“More research and treatment options are urgently needed for brain cancer patients,” said Chase Gross. He is a student in the Colorado State University Doctor of Veterinary Medicine / Master of Science program. “Our work shows that CBD has the potential to provide an effective and synergistic therapeutic option for glioblastoma and that it should continue to be studied rigorously,” he added.
Gross was to present the research at the annual meeting of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in San Diego this month.
Although the meeting, which will be held in conjunction with the 2020 Experimental Biology Conference, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team’s research summary has been published in this month’s issue – this from the FASEB Journal.
Gross and colleagues examined human and canine glioblastoma cells because cancer has striking similarities between the two species.
They tested the effects of the CBD isolate which contains 100% CBD. Moreover, the CBD extract which contains small amounts of other natural compounds such as cannabigerol (CBG) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). “Our experiments have shown that CBD slows the growth of cancer cells and is toxic to canine and human glioblastoma cell lines.
In addition, the differences in the anti-cancer effects between the isolate and the CBD extract seem negligible, “said Gross.
New research has revealed that the toxic effects of CBD are mediated by the natural pathway of cell apoptosis. It is a form of programmed cell death (a process by which cells trigger self-destruction in response to a signal).
The researchers also observed that CBD-induced cell death was characterized by large. It was swollen intracellular vesicles before the membrane began to swell and break down. In addition, this was the case for all the cell lines studied.
Researchers believe that the anti-cancer actions of CBD target the mitochondria. The energy-producing structures of the cell. It is causing mitochondria dysfunction and releasing harmful reactive oxygen species. Their experiments demonstrated that cells treated with CBD showed significant decreases in mitochondrial activity.
“CBD has been hotly studied in cells for its anticancer properties over the past decade.
Our study helps to complete the in vitro puzzle. So, it is allowing us to move forward in studying the effects of CBD on glioblastoma. In a clinical context, using live animal models. Moreover, this could lead to new treatments that would help both people and dogs with this very serious cancer, “said Gross.
The researchers then plan to switch from cell cultures to animal models to test the effects of CBD on glioblastoma in real conditions.
So, if animal studies go well, work could progress to clinical trials on dogs being treated for natural glioblastoma at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
