Enhancement of Conventional and Photodynamic Therapy for Treatment of Cervical Cancer with Cannabidiol

Abstract

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Conventional treatments include surgery, chemo- and radiotherapy, however these are invasive and may cause severe side effects. Furthermore, approximately 70% of late-stage CC patients experience metastasis, due to treatment resistance and limitations. Thus, there is a dire need to investigate alternative therapeutic combination therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative CC treatment modality that has been clinically proven to treat primary CC, as well as to limit secondary metastasis. Since PDT is a non-invasive localized treatment, with fewer side effects and lessened resistance to dose repeats, it is considered far more advantageous. However, more clinical trials are required to refine its delivery and dosing, as well as improve its ability to activate specific immune responses to eradicate secondary CC spread. Cannabidiol (CBD) isolates have been shown to exert in vitro CC anticancer effects, causing apoptosis post treatment, as well as inducing specific immune responses, which obstruct tumor invasion and angiogenesis, and so hinder CC metastatic spread. This review paper discusses the current conventional and alternative PDT treatment modalities for CC, as well as their limitations over the last 10 years. It has a particular focus on the combinative administration of CBD with these treatments in order to prevent CC secondary migration and so possibly encourage future research studies to focus on this synergistic effect to eradicate CC.

Exploring the Potential of Cannabinoid Nanodelivery Systems for CNS Disorders

“…(2019) revealed that the surface functionalization of these lipid nanocapsules with CBD allowed cannabinoid receptors overexpressed in glioma cells to be targeted, as shown in permeability experiments across the BBB of an in vitro model and in biodistribution experiments in mice [ 104 ]. When testing cannabinoid nanoparticles on other cancer models, the results showed enhancement of photodynamic therapy in combination with cannabinoids in colorectal [ 105 ], cervical [ 106 ] and breast cancer [ 107 , 108 , 109 ]. CBD in combination with nanomiceles was studied in triple-negative breast cancer [ 110 ], and with lipid nanoparticles in ovarian cancer [ 111 ].…”

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus and their Association with the Pathogenesis of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Adenocarcinomas: A Review Article

“…Articles selection : The prerequisites for inclusion were as follows: Articles have outlined the contributions the MCPyV makes to SCCs and ACs. However, the following exclusion standards were taken into account: ( 1 ) Reviews; ( 2 ) non-English language; ( 3 ) Case reports; ( 4 ) Articles not concentrating on the contributions of the MCPyV to SCCs and ACs; ( 5 ) Articles deficient in important information; and ( 4 ) Studies without full text.…”

“…Cervical cancer is cancer arising from the cervix ( 1 ). It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other body parts ( 2 , 3 ). Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer and death from cancer in women ( 4 ).…”

Nano‐phototherapy: Favorable prospects for cancer treatment

“…Red light activation of the PS results in the production of singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) and harmful ROS. This cytotoxic species production causes oxidative stress, which may lead to apoptosis (Razlog et al, 2023). Although, it has been established that PDT is a tumor‐specific therapeutic criteria, its uses are severely hampered by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) (Hu et al, 2018).…”