Insights into the effects of the endocannabinoid system in cancer: a review

Abstract

In the last few decades, the endocannabinoid system has attracted a great deal of interest in terms of its applications to clinical medicine. In particular, its applications in cancer probably represent one of the therapeutic areas with most promise. On the one hand, expression of the endocannabinoid system is altered in numerous types of tumours, compared to healthy tissue, and this aberrant expression has been related to cancer prognosis and disease outcome, suggesting a role of this system in tumour growth and progression that depends on cancer type. On the other hand, cannabinoids exert an anticancer activity by inhibiting the proliferation, migration and/or invasion of cancer cells and also tumour angiogenesis. However, some cannabinoids, at lower concentrations, may increase tumour proliferation, inducing cancer growth. Enough data has been provided to consider the endocannabinoid system as a new therapeutic target in cancer, although further studies to fully establish the effect of cannabinoids on tumour progression are still needed.

The Endocannabinoid System: A Target for Cancer Treatment

“…Despite the reported evidence, the altered expression of CB receptors in several GI cancers is not strictly related to a straightforward cause and effect and must be further investigated. However, cannabinoids' action in GI cancers has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, indicating their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antimetastatic properties [41]. Of note, it has been demonstrated that endogenous cannabinoid agonists, such as AEA (0.5-5 µM) and its metabolic-stable analogous, Meth-AEA (0.5-5 µM), diminished the volume and the density of gastric carcinomas cells, inducing apoptosis and necrosis, respectively [42].…”

The Highs and Lows of Cannabis in Cancer Treatment and Bone Marrow Transplantation

“…In addition, the heterogeneity of endocannabinoids and their receptors in different tumor types raises the possibility that specific cannabinoid compositions should be used to treat differing cancer subtypes. 3,9,10…”

Cannabidiol: A budding industry!

“…Since its initial discovery, the endocannabinoid system has been studied for its potential involvement in a wide range of pathophysiological processes linked to conditions such as cancer (Fraguas‐Sánchez et al . ), inflammatory bowel diseases (Leinwand et al . ), type 2 diabetes (Gruden et al .…”