Study: THC and CBD inhibit cancer cell proliferation in lung cancer

A recent study published in the journal PloS ONE showed that THC and CBD can inhibit cancer cell proliferation in lung cancer.

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often develop resistance to anti-tumor agents. New, complementary drugs are then required. The study agonists in question. endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), in this case THC and CBD.

According to the researchers, the combined use of THC and CBD confers greater benefits, as the CBD enhances the effects of THC and reduces its psychotropic activity. They evaluated the relationship between CB1 and CB2 receptor expression levels in NSCLC patients, and the effect of THC and CBD (individually and in combination) on cancer proliferation in particular.

Thus, patients with high levels of CB1 and/or CB2 receptor expression showed increased survival. Both cannabinoid agonists inhibited lung cancer cell proliferation and expression, and CBD potentiated the effect of THC. The THC and CBD alone or in combination reduced in vitro migration in the three lung cancer cell lines used.

The study concludes that CB1 and CB2 receptor expression levels have potential use as markers of survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. THC and CBD also inhibited the proliferation and expression of the lung cancer cells studied. The THC/CBD combination also restored the epithelial phenotype of lung cancer cells. in vitro.