An Alternative Cancer Treatment
Using conventional treatments for cancer may have struggles with its resistance, or the patient becomes more and more sicker with on-going chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Research proved that medical cannabis can become an alternative effective cancer treatment.
Mechanism of Cannabis Action
Cannabis is composed of different bioactive molecules, mainly cannabinoids and terpenoids. Within our bodies, there exists an endocannabinoid system (ECS) , an important molecular system responsible for controlling homeostasis and regulating our everyday needs of health. The ECS is becoming an increasingly popular target of pharmacotherapy.
Cannabis exerts its actions by binding to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 of our ECS. The distribution of these receptors accounts for the effects associated with cannabis use. CB1 receptors located throughout the body, mainly in the Central Nervous System. CB2 receptors are mainly in the immune system.
Here we focus to introduce the medical cannabis use in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), refractory cancer-associated pain, and as an antitumor agent.
Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)
Medical cannabis is well known for its anti-vomiting properties, which makes it an appealing treatment for CINV, and can especially be used for patients intolerant of other anti-vomiting drugs.
Reducing Cancer-Associated Pain
Cannabinoids are used to relieve cancer-associated pain, specifically neuropathic pain. CB1 receptors, with high concentrations in the brain, modulate pain processing. Cannabinoids suppress the release of inflammatory substances, and effectively inhibit the acute pain response and extreme sensitivity to pain.
Cannabis as an Antitumor Agent
Cannabinoids have anticancer effects on human cancer cells. Cannabinoids can inhibit tumor growth via various mechanisms. With activation of the receptors CB1 and CB2 widespread throughout the body, cannabinoids induce death of cancer cells in a process known as “autophagy”, and suppress cancer cell growth. Evidence showed cannabinoids also play a role in preventing cancer migration and spread.
Of course, the properties of cannabinoids in increasing appetite, improving sleep and reducing anxiety are all important to patients fighting with cancer.