First human study of THC and brain cancer about to begin

Cannabis is often used therapeutically to treat the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. However, some studies and some testimonials suggest that it could prove to be an effective treatment for cancer itself, either as an alternative or in combination with traditional treatments. An Australian study will test its effectiveness against glioblastoma, the most common cancer in adults, which is characterized by brain tumors.

Medical cannabis and cancer

At present, the effects of cannabis on tumors are still unclear. Certain cannabinoids could potentially trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells—or, in other words, cause them to commit “suicide.” Research has also shown that medical cannabis, when combined with traditional treatments, can extend the life expectancy of patients. However, these studies were conducted on laboratory rats or cell cultures. The effects of cannabis on tumors within the complex environment of the human body are still poorly understood.

It is also the position of the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. federal agency responsible for cancer research, which acknowledges that cannabinoids appear promising and are already being used to treat the side effects of the disease or its treatment, but believes there is still too little data to recommend medical cannabis as a treatment for cancer. Until now, studies on cancer have been conducted in laboratories or on animals. This is the first time a study has investigated the antitumor properties of cannabis directly in humans.

The first study in humans

Australia has legalized medical cannabis in 2016. This legalization made it possible to expand research—which had previously been limited to the side effects of cannabis—to include clinical trials on the plant’s therapeutic potential. Dr. Janet Schloss, a naturopath and nutritionist, and neurosurgeon Charlie Teo seized this opportunity. Their goal is to study the effects of cannabis oil when combined with traditional cancer treatments.

A study A recent study conducted on mice shows that CBD boosts the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Among a group of mice undergoing chemotherapy, some were given CBD. The mice that received CBD had a survival rate three times higher than the others. The study concluded that CBD is a promising adjunct treatment for chemotherapy. Now, these Australian scientists have decided to conduct experiments on humans using THC.

One of the study’s goals is to determine whether medical cannabis can slow the growth of glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and very common form of brain cancer that kills its victims within about a year (only 5% survive beyond five years). Generally, after diagnosis, a patient’s survival is measured in months. Cannabis could potentially improve not only patients’ quality of life but also extend their life expectancy. They also hope that THC treatment can reduce the risk of tumor regrowth.

The study will be randomized, meaning that some patients will receive cannabis oil and others a placebo. Participants will be given the oil in addition to their standard treatment. The oil in question comes from BioCeuticals, an Australian pharmaceutical company that developed it specifically for this purpose. The recruitment phase begins in two weeks. It is estimated that 1,000 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year in Australia and 2,400 in France.