Preclinical Cancer Studies

The Efficacy of Cannabinoids and Whole-Plant Extracts

Dozens of preclinical studies carried out at universities and research institutions throughout the world clearly demonstrate the anticancer effects of primary cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and CBG, as well as whole-plant cannabis extracts. Most major types of cancer have proven to be susceptible to cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids act against cancer cells through four major mechanisms. These mechanisms are usually triggered by activation of cannabinoid or other receptors on the surface of cancer cells. The most potent effect is the induction of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This is the controlled disintegration of cancer cells. Cannabinoids can also inhibit the reproduction of malignant cells, thus slowing their growth. In solid tumors, cannabinoids can block the development of new blood vessels which drive further tumor growth. Finally, the metastatic process by which cancer cells spread to distant organs has also shown to be mitigated by cannabinoids.

All studies listed here are preclinical and only use cell cultures or animals. This preclinical material is just one piece of the comprehensive Supporting Evidence showing how cannabis fights cancer. You can explore studies that may not be listed here by searching various terms on PubMed.

---

Brain Cancer

Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Induces Apoptosis in C6 Glioma Cells

Cannabinoids Inhibit the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gliomas

Cannabinoids Inhibit Glioma Cell Invasion By Down-Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression

Antitumor Effects of Cannabidiol, A Nonpsychoactive
Cannabinoid, on Human Glioma Cell Lines

Cannabidiol, a Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Compound, Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion in U87-MG and T98G Glioma Cells Through a Multitarget Effect

Cannabidiol Stimulates Aml-1a-Dependent Glial Differentiation and Inhibits Glioma Stem-Like Cells Proliferation by Inducing Autophagy in a TRPV2-Dependent Manner

Cannabidiol Enhances the Inhibitory Effects of Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Human Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation and Survival

 

Breast Cancer

Cannabinoids Reduce ErbB2-Driven Breast Cancer Progression Through Akt Inhibition

Cannabidiol Induces Programmed Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells by Coordinating the Cross-Talk Between Apoptosis and Autophagy

Pathways Mediating the Effects of Cannabidiol on the Reduction of Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Metastasis

Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment and Inhibition of EGF/EGFR Pathway: Novel Anti-Tumor Mechanisms of Cannabidiol in Breast Cancer

Appraising the “Entourage Effect”: Antitumor Action of a Pure Cannabinoid Versus a Botanical Drug Preparation in Preclinical Models of Breast Cancer

 

Cervical Cancer

Cannabidiol Inhibits Cancer Cell Invasion via Upregulation of Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases-1

Inhibition of Cancer Cell Invasion by Cannabinoids via Increased Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases-1

 

Cholangiocarcinoma

The Dual Effects of Delta(9)Tetrahydrocannabinol on Cholangiocarcinoma Cells: Anti-Invasion Activity at Low Concentration and Apoptosis Induction at High Concentration

 

Colon Cancer

Chemopreventive Effect of the Non-Psychotropic Phytocannabinoid Cannabidiol on Experimental Colon Cancer

Inhibition of Colon Carcinogenesis by a Standardized Cannabis Sativa Extract with High Content of Cannabidiol

Colon Carcinogenesis is Inhibited by the TRPM8 Antagonist Cannabigerol, a Cannabis-Derived Non-Psychotropic Cannabinoid

 

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Cannabidiol Inhibits Growth and Induces Programmed Cell Death in Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus-Infected Endothelium

 

Leukemia &
Lymphoma

Cannabis-Induced Cytotoxicity in Leukemic Cell Lines: The Role of the Cannabinoid Receptors and the MAPK Pathway

Cannabidiol-Induced Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cells: A Novel Role of Cannabidiol in the Regulation of p22phox and Nox4 Expression

Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Induced Apoptosis in Jurkat Leukemia T Cells is Regulated by Translocation of Bad to Mitochondria

The CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor Signals Apoptosis via Ceramide-Dependent Activation of the Mitochondrial Intrinsic Pathway

Enhancing the Activity of Cannabidiol and Other Cannabinoids in Vitro Through Modifications of Drug Combinations and Treatment Schedules

 

Liver Cancer

Anti-Tumoral Action of Cannabinoids on Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Role of AMPK-Dependent Activation of Autophagy

Involvement of PPARγ in the Antitumoral Action of Cannabinoids in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

 

Lung Cancer

Antineoplastic Activity of Cannabinoids

Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Inhibits Epithelial Growth Factor-Induced Lung Cancer Cell Migration in -Vitro as well as its Growth and Metatasis in Vivo

COX-2 and PPAR-γ Confer Cannabidiol-Induced Apoptosis of Human Lung Cancer Cells

Cannabinoids Increase Lung Cancer Cell Lysis by Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells via Upregulation of ICAM-1

 

Multiple Myeloma

 The Effects of Cannabidiol and its Synergism with Bortezomib in Multiple Myeloma Cell Lines. A Role for Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type-2

Cannabinoids Synergize with Carfilzomib, Reducing Multiple Myeloma Cells Viability and Migration

 

Pancreatic Cancer

Cannabinoids Induce Apoptosis of Pancreatic Tumor Cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Genes

 

Prostate Cancer

Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Induces Apoptosis in Human Prostate PC-3 Cells via a Receptor-Independent Mechanism

Non-THC Cannabinoids Inhibit Prostate Carcinoma Growth in Vitro and in Vivo: Pro-Apoptotic Effects and Underlying Mechanisms

 

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Cannabinoid Receptor 1 is a Potential Drug Target for Treatment of Translocation-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma

 

Skin Cancer

Differential Role of Cannabinoids in the Pathogenesis of Skin Cancer

Exploiting Cannabinoid-Induced Cytotoxic Autophagy to Drive Melanoma Cell Death

 

Urothelial Carcinoma

TRPV2 Activation Induces Apoptotic Cell Death in Human T24 Bladder Cancer Cells: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Bladder Cancer

 

Assorted Cancers

Antitumor Activity of Plant Cannabinoids with Emphasis on the Effect of Cannabidiol on Human Breast Carcinoma

Induction of Apoptosis by Cannabinoids in Prostate and Colon Cancer Cells is Phosphatase Dependent

(Endo)Cannabinoids and Gynaecological Cancers