Cannabis May Help Treat Melanoma Skin Cancer
Cannabis Extract Shows Promise in Slowing Melanoma Cell Growth, Study Finds.
A recent in-vitro study reveals that a cannabis extract can potentially decelerate the growth of melanoma cells and increase the rate at which these cells die.
Researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) examined the process of programmed cell death induced by a particular cannabis extract known as cannabinoid PHEC-66, which is a concentrated form developed by MGC Pharmaceuticals in Australia.
Published in the Cells journal and partially funded by MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Australia, the study revealed that the cannabis extract interacts with receptors on certain melanoma cells, suggesting it could be helpful as a supplementary therapy for treating malignant melanoma. However, additional preclinical studies are necessary to thoroughly explore its potential and effectiveness.
Melanomas are cancerous cells that originate from melanocytes in the epidermis. Although melanoma only represents around 6% of skin cancers, it is responsible for more than 80% of skin cancer-related deaths.
This type of cancer has a high tendency to spread and can form tumors both locally and at distant sites. Additionally, it has demonstrated resistance to traditional treatments.
Treatment options for metastatic melanoma are currently limited. However, there is evidence to suggest that certain naturally occurring compounds from cannabis plants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenes, may possess anticancer properties that could be beneficial in melanoma treatment.
Past research has shown that activating CB1 and CB2 receptors with plant-derived compounds can slow down early tumor growth in various cancers, as they act as mediators, triggering different molecular pathways.
This study found that the cannabis extract PHEC-66 slowed the growth and movement of melanoma cells when interacting with the endocannabinoid system receptors CB1 and CB2.
In order to validate the findings, melanoma cells were treated with CB1 and CB2 antagonists to block these receptors. This was done to determine if blocking either CB1 or CB2 receptors would affect the effectiveness of PHEC-66 on cell viability. The outcomes show a notable rise in cell viability for melanoma cells.
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The study shows that the cannabis extract PHEC-66 caused varying alterations in the expression of receptor genes in melanoma cell lines. These findings imply that the signaling pathways activated by PHEC-66 may involve CB1 and CB2 receptors. Additionally, the response to PHEC-66 treatment varies among different cell lines.
Furthermore, cannabis extract PHEC-66, which contains mostly CBD, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation and movement of melanoma cells, potentially preventing the spread of cancer. However, more research is needed to fully understand how PHEC-66 interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors in melanoma cells.
In particular, researchers investigated how PHEC-66 interacts with its receptors while specific blockers, AM251 and AM630, were present. These blockers selectively inhibit CB1 and CB2 receptors. By using these blockers, it was confirmed that the decrease in growth induced by PHEC-66 is mainly linked to CB2 receptors in all tested melanoma cells.
"These findings suggest that the CB1 receptor may be involved to a minor extent in PHEC-66 activity on MM96L [metastatic melanoma] cells, while CB2 antagonist significantly blocked PHEC-66 cytotoxicity in all tested cell lines," the study reads.
In conclusion, this research has shown that PHEC-66 slows melanoma cell growth by interacting with CB1 and CB2 receptors. This interaction alters metabolic pathways and affects cell cycle progression, leading to apoptosis, a programmed cell death process, and, consequently, a reduction in melanoma cell growth. Further research is necessary to fully understand its potential in treating advanced-stage melanoma, especially in combination therapies and using advanced experimental models.
This study into the possible use of cannabis in treating melanoma offers a glimmer of hope in cancer treatment, although the path to developing a new therapeutic approach is lengthy and demands additional rigorous scientific study, which may involve experiments on animals and clinical trials on humans.
