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.
Oncologists, cancer researchers, tumor immunology specialists, medical cannabis clinicians.
Cannabinoids target multiple tumor microenvironment components simultaneously
What the researchers 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.
Why it 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 numbers in context
No specific quantitative outcomes. Review covers effects on endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Active clinical trials highlighted.
How the study worked
Narrative review of cannabinoid effects on tumor microenvironment cellular components, molecular mechanisms, nanoformulation approaches, and active interventional clinical trials.
What this study cannot 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.
How to read the evidence
Narrative review of mostly preclinical evidence with reference to active clinical trials.
When this study was published
Published in 2023.
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.
Questions still open
- Will ongoing clinical trials confirm the TME-modulating effects of cannabinoids in cancer patients?
- Which cancer types are most responsive to cannabinoid TME modulation?
Common questions
Can cannabinoids fight cancer?
How do cannabinoids affect tumors?
Read the original research
Therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironments with cannabinoids and their analogs: Update on clinical trials.
Environmental research, 231(Pt 1), 115862
Citation
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
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