A Review Found Cannabinoids Can Target Multiple Components of the Tumor Microenvironment to Fight Cancer
Cannabinoids and their analogs affect healthy cell growth and reverse cancer-related abnormalities by targeting tumor microenvironment components including endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and immune cells, with several clinical trials now underway.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabinoids positively affect healthy cell growth and reverse cancer-related abnormalities by targeting aberrant tumor microenvironments (TMEs). They lower tumorigenesis, prevent metastasis, and may boost chemotherapy and radiotherapy effectiveness. The review describes cannabinoid effects on TME cellular components (endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, immune cells) and discusses active clinical trials.
Key Numbers
No specific quantitative outcomes. Review covers effects on endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Active clinical trials highlighted.
How They Did This
Narrative review of cannabinoid effects on tumor microenvironment cellular components, molecular mechanisms, nanoformulation approaches, and active interventional clinical trials.
Why This Research Matters
Cancer immunotherapy increasingly focuses on the tumor microenvironment. Finding that cannabinoids can modulate multiple TME components simultaneously opens possibilities for combining cannabinoids with existing cancer treatments.
The Bigger Picture
The shift from studying whether cannabinoids kill cancer cells in a dish to understanding how they modify the tumor ecosystem represents a maturation of cannabinoid oncology research. TME modulation may explain why cannabinoids show broader effects than single-target drugs.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review drawing heavily on preclinical data. Clinical trial data are limited. Cannabinoid effects may vary by cancer type. Nanoformulation approaches are early-stage. Cannot determine optimal dosing or combinations from available evidence.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will ongoing clinical trials confirm the TME-modulating effects of cannabinoids in cancer patients?
- ?Which cancer types are most responsive to cannabinoid TME modulation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabinoids target multiple tumor microenvironment components simultaneously
- Evidence Grade:
- Narrative review of mostly preclinical evidence with reference to active clinical trials.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2023.
- Original Title:
- Therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironments with cannabinoids and their analogs: Update on clinical trials.
- Published In:
- Environmental research, 231(Pt 1), 115862 (2023)
- Authors:
- Sheik, Aliya, Farani, Marzieh Ramezani, Kim, Eunsu, Kim, Suheon, Gupta, Vivek Kumar, Kumar, Krishan, Huh, Yun Suk
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04932
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabinoids fight cancer?
Preclinical evidence shows cannabinoids can target multiple components of the tumor microenvironment and may complement chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Clinical trials are underway but results are not yet available.
How do cannabinoids affect tumors?
They can modulate endothelial cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes in the tumor microenvironment, potentially reducing tumor growth, preventing spread, and enhancing treatment response.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04932APA
Sheik, Aliya; Farani, Marzieh Ramezani; Kim, Eunsu; Kim, Suheon; Gupta, Vivek Kumar; Kumar, Krishan; Huh, Yun Suk. (2023). Therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironments with cannabinoids and their analogs: Update on clinical trials.. Environmental research, 231(Pt 1), 115862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115862
MLA
Sheik, Aliya, et al. "Therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironments with cannabinoids and their analogs: Update on clinical trials.." Environmental research, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115862
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironments with ca..." RTHC-04932. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/sheik-2023-therapeutic-targeting-of-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.