Study: a cannabis flavonoid could be used against pancreatic cancer

From researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from Harvard University have discovered a flavonoid cannabis with «significant therapeutic potential» for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In the study, the flavonoid derivative FBL-03G killed tumor cells in 70% mice with pancreatic cancer. Flavonoids, which are non-psychoactive, are naturally present in plants, vegetables and fruit, giving them their color, among other things. In cannabis, they represent only 0.14% of the plant.

Pancreatic cancer accounts for only 3% of all cancers in America, but it is one of the most difficult-to-treat and deadly forms of the disease, killing more than 92% of sufferers in five years. In the study, researchers note that the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is 8%, and that it often metastasizes to other organs before diagnosis. According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, It could be the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States next year.

Wilfred Ngwa, PhD, assistant professor at Harvard and one of the investigators,said that the «most significant finding» of the study is «that delivery of tumor-targeting flavonoids derived from cannabis resulted in the destruction of local and metastatic tumor cells.» He added that this could «significantly» increase disease survival rates.

According to Ngwa, the scientists also discovered that FBL-03G was capable of attack other cancer cells. «We were quite surprised that the drug could inhibit the growth of cancer cells in other parts of the body, representing metastases, which were not targeted by the treatment,» he said. «This suggests that the immune system is also involved, and we are currently investigating this mechanism.» Ngwa hopes to complete ongoing pre-clinical studies by the end of 2020.

The efficacy of cannabis components on various forms of cancer had already been demonstrated in the past. The efficacy of two molecules, cannflavin A and cannflavin B, for example, is 30 times better than aspirin in terms of inflammation reduction. A specific study of the breast cancer had also shown that cannabidiol (CBD) is effective in treating tumors. Further research is underway, for example into the effects of THC on the brain cancer in humans.