Highlights Control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is inadequate. This phase II crossover randomised controlled trial compared oral cannabis extract or placebo together with guideline-recommended antiemetics. There was a significant improvement in the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Although there were additional side-effects, most participants preferred cannabis extract to placebo. Based on these positive results, the definitive parallel phase III trial component continues to recruit. Background This multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase II/III trial aimed to evaluate an oral THC:CBD (tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol) cannabis extract for prevention of refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Here we report the phase II component results. Patients and methods...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract I am a head and neck radiation oncologist in a tertiary care practice in Minnesota. I am credentialed in the state of Minnesota to certify patients for medical cannabis. Over the last 6 years, I have certified select patients for medical cannabis as part of management of their cancer-related symptoms and effects of treatment. In this paper, I review my approach to incorporating medical cannabis into the management of patients with head and neck cancer.

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Most of the pharmacological effects of Cannabis species have been attributed to their cannabinoid constituents, primarily Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Efficient methods of extraction, purification, and characterization of these compounds are necessary to obtain both enriched preparations and isolated compounds for therapeutic applications. In this study, forensic samples of Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae, were subjected to extraction, using maceration in two different solvents, methanol, and diethyl ether. These extracts were subjected to thermal decarboxylation and purification by liquid–liquid fractionation. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol concentrations from various extracts were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Extract cytotoxicity was assayed in...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis has long been used for healing and recreation in several regions of the world. Over 400 bioactive constituents, including more than 100 phytocannabinoids, have been isolated from this plant. The non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and the psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) are the major and widely studied constituents from this plant. Cannabinoids exert their effects through the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that comprises cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2), endogenous ligands, and metabolizing enzymes. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of cannabinoids against leukemia, lymphoma, glioblastoma, and cancers of the breast, colorectum, pancreas, cervix and prostate. Cannabis and its constituents can modulate multiple cancer related pathways such as PKB,...

Abstract Introduction: Several studies have found that cannabinoids, particularly delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD), have the ability to reduce cancer cell viability. An ongoing debate regarding the use of medical Cannabis revolves around the effectiveness of pure compounds versus intact plant material for treatment. Proponents for the use of intact plant material or botanical extracts argue that there is a synergistic effect between the different cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids; this is commonly referred to as the “entourage effect.” Our study was designed to test the validity of the proposed entourage effect in a narrow application using a cancer cell viability model. Materials and Methods: Six cancer cell lines,...

Abstract Background Efficacy of inhaled cannabis for treating pain is controversial. Effective treatment for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy represents an unmet medical need. We hypothesized that cannabis reduces neuropathic pain by reducing functional coupling in the raphe nuclei. Methods We assessed the impact of inhalation of vaporized cannabis plant (containing 10.3% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol/0.05% cannabidiol) or placebo cannabis on brain resting-state blood oxygen level–dependent functional connectivity and pain behavior induced by paclitaxel in rats. Rats received paclitaxel to produce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy or its vehicle. Behavioral and imaging experiments were performed after neuropathy was established and stable. Images were registered to, and analyzed using, a 3D magnetic resonance imaging rat atlas providing site-specific data on more than 168 different brain areas. Results Prior to vaporization, paclitaxel...

Abstract Purpose: The therapeutic utility of Cannabis in cancer is a topic of intense interest. Dronabinol is synthetic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, and is approved for treating refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Little is known about dronabinol prescribing in children and young adults, and no published concentration data are available. This study evaluated national level dronabinol use and assessed concentrations of THC and its primary metabolites in patients with cancer <27 years of age prescribed dronabinol. Methods: Observational review of records from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) and a regional network of hospitals in the Intermountain West, including a tertiary care children's hospital, Primary...

Simple Summary Phytocannabinoids Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been demonstrated to exhibit anti-cancer activity in preclinical models of brain cancer leading to new clinical trials for adults with glioblastoma. We describe here the first report that has investigated a role for THC and CBD in pediatric brain cancer. Cannabinoids had cytotoxic activity against medulloblastoma and ependymoma cells in vitro, functioning in part through the inhibition of cell cycle progression and the induction of autophagy. Despite these effects in vitro, when tested in orthotopic mouse models of medulloblastoma or ependymoma, no impact on animal survival was observed. Furthermore, cannabinoids neither enhanced nor impaired conventional...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective Cannabinoids, including delta-8- and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have a palliative care impact and may therefore be beneficial against cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC on oral cancer cell behaviors. Design The Ca9-22 oral cancer cells were cultured in the presence or not of various concentrations of Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC for different times. The cultures were then used to measure cell viability/proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of signaling pathways MAP-Kinase, NF-κB, and β−catenin. Results Both cannabinoids were found to decrease cell viability/proliferation by...

Abstract Cannabis sativa contains more than 500 constituents, yet the anticancer properties of the vast majority of cannabis compounds remains unknown. We aimed to identify cannabis compounds and their combinations presenting cytotoxicity against bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urinary system cancer. An XTT assay was used to determine cytotoxic activity of C. sativa extracts on T24 and HBT-9 cell lines. Extract chemical content was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle, using stained F-actin and nuclei. Scratch and transwell assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion, respectively. Gene expression...