Cannabichromene Killed Pancreatic Cancer Cells Through Multiple Cell Death Pathways

CBC treatment upregulated ferroptosis-related genes including HMOX1 and induced both apoptosis and ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. CBC increased TRPV1 and CB2 receptor expression, and blocking these receptors reversed the cell death effects. In xenograft mouse models, CBC consistently inhibited tumor growth through the same multi-pathway mechanism.

In vitro studies in human pancreatic cancer cells (mRNA-seq analysis, molecular assays for apoptosis and ferroptosis) combined with in vivo xenograft models in mice. Receptor involvement confirmed through inhibitor experiments.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst survival rates of any cancer. CBC working through multiple cell death pathways simultaneously could overcome the treatment resistance that makes pancreatic cancer so difficult to treat.

While THC and CBD have received most research attention for anti-cancer properties, minor cannabinoids like CBC may offer distinct mechanisms. The multi-pathway approach (apoptosis plus ferroptosis) is particularly interesting given cancer cells' ability to evade single death pathways.

Preclinical study only. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines and mouse xenografts may not reflect clinical tumor behavior. CBC doses used may not be achievable in humans. No comparison to standard pancreatic cancer therapies.