CBD and Endometrial Cancer
A study was conducted to determine the potential of cannabinoids like CBD and THC when faced up against endometrial cancer (EC). The Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry, a peer reviewed open access journal that focuses on molecular, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms that are involved in human pathophysiology, stated that in vitro cannabinoids were shown to inhibit the growth of tumor cells, inducing cell death, leading to the exploration of using cannabinoids for EC (1).
The study wanted to determine if these anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties of CBD and THC were also effective against EC cells…
EC is the most prevalent gynecologic malignancy (tumor/cancer) for American women, contributing to 60,000 new diagnoses yearly and over 13,000 deaths annually (2). The study concluded that EC cells express TRPV1 receptors (which cannabinoids also interact with) as well endocannabinoid receptors (1). Because of these receptors present on EC cells, treatment of anandamide (AEA; a cannabinoid our body makes naturally) paired with CBD was shown to interact with these receptors and increase levels of caspase, which is a endoprotease that regulates inflammation and cell death, indicating apoptosis (cell death) (1).
The study noted that CBD when paired with AEA was shown to induce cell death, whereas utilizing THC did not (1).
This puts emphasis on most of the anti-cancer properties coming from CBD, although I would intervene and say that THC can enhance the effects of CBD and having a minute amount of THC present will be beneficial, since THC can amplify the effects of CBD through synergistic properties.
When AEA was paired with CBD, they are shown to cause cell death through the apoptotic pathway through interaction with transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and by modulating or controlling intracellular calcium levels (1).
The study concluded that TRPV1 activation by AEA and CBD are an “attractive” area of research for the treatment of estrogen-dependent endometrial carcinoma due to CBD’s ability to help lower elevated estrogen levels (1).
Medical researchers are interested in the anticancer and anti-tumor properties of CBD (plus other cannabinoids when acting together) because there are cancers out there that are not responsive to conventional cancer treatment (1). This is obviously a problem with EC, since we still have over 13,000 women dying annually from it (1).
As always, more research needs to be conducted because medical research on this plant is fairly new due to recent legal access to conduct research. We need more studies to understand how these compounds interact with our very complex ECS so we can get a better understanding of what other disease processes involve ECS dysregulation and what cannabinoids have to offer when it comes to treatment options.
One thing we don’t need further research on is determining the safety profile of this plant. We have been using this plant for thousands of years, with zero recordings of overdose related deaths (3). I don’t know about you but that alone is enough to hit the front-page news. Throw in some anti-cancer properties and now those in charge who deemed this plant harmful, they have a lot of explaining to do!
Cheers to one of nature’s finest herbs.
Bee Well,
Brandon Farless
*This information is for educational purposes only and simply sharing information regarding these studies. No medical advice or claims are being made on my behalf.
References
- Fonseca, B. M., Correia-da-Silva, G., & Teixeira, N. A. (2018). Cannabinoid-induced cell death in endometrial cancer cells: involvement of TRPV1 receptors in apoptosis. Journal of physiology and biochemistry, 74(2), 261–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-018-0611-7
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2017 Jan 12. 9, Injury and Death. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425742/#
