Cannabinoid receptors on immune cells in tumors could be therapeutic targets for cancer treatment
CB2 and CB1 receptors are expressed on nearly all immune cell types found in tumors, and activating these receptors modulates immune responses in ways that could potentially be harnessed for cancer therapy.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CB2 and CB1 receptors are expressed on T cells, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, NK cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, and eosinophils within the tumor microenvironment. Cannabinoids can modulate apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis in cancer.
Key Numbers
CB1 and CB2 receptors are G protein-coupled receptors; CB2 is more widely expressed on immune cells; cannabinoids inhibit angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in vitro and in vivo
How They Did This
Review examining the expression and function of cannabinoid receptors on immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, drawing on preclinical research.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding how cannabinoid receptors on immune cells influence tumor development could lead to novel immunotherapy approaches that complement existing cancer treatments.
The Bigger Picture
The intersection of the endocannabinoid system and cancer immunology is a frontier area where cannabinoid-based drugs could potentially join the growing arsenal of cancer immunotherapies.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Most evidence is preclinical. The expression of CB receptors on different immune cell subsets in human tumors is incompletely characterized. Effects may differ by cancer type.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could selective CB2 agonists be developed as cancer immunotherapy agents?
- ?Do different cancers show different patterns of cannabinoid receptor expression on their immune infiltrates?
- ?Would cannabinoid-based treatments complement or interfere with checkpoint immunotherapy?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CB2 receptors are expressed on nearly all immune cell types found in tumors
- Evidence Grade:
- Review of primarily preclinical evidence on cannabinoid receptor expression and function in tumor immunology
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021. Cannabinoid-immune interactions in cancer remain an active area of preclinical research.
- Original Title:
- The Interplay between the Immune and the Endocannabinoid Systems in Cancer.
- Published In:
- Cells, 10(6) (2021)
- Authors:
- Braile, Mariantonia, Marcella, Simone, Marone, Gianni, Galdiero, Maria Rosaria, Varricchi, Gilda, Loffredo, Stefania
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03022
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do cannabinoid receptors affect cancer?
Preclinical research shows CB1 and CB2 receptors are expressed on immune cells within tumors and can modulate multiple aspects of cancer biology, including cell death, growth, migration, and blood vessel formation.
Could cannabinoids be used in cancer treatment?
The presence of cannabinoid receptors on tumor-associated immune cells suggests therapeutic potential, but this is based on preclinical research. Clinical applications have not been developed from these findings.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03022APA
Braile, Mariantonia; Marcella, Simone; Marone, Gianni; Galdiero, Maria Rosaria; Varricchi, Gilda; Loffredo, Stefania. (2021). The Interplay between the Immune and the Endocannabinoid Systems in Cancer.. Cells, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061282
MLA
Braile, Mariantonia, et al. "The Interplay between the Immune and the Endocannabinoid Systems in Cancer.." Cells, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061282
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Interplay between the Immune and the Endocannabinoid Sys..." RTHC-03022. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/braile-2021-the-interplay-between-the
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.