Curr Oncol. 2016 Mar;23(2):S23-32. doi: 10.3747/co.23.3080. Epub 2016 Mar 16.
Abstract
In
addition to the well-known palliative effects of cannabinoids on some
cancer-associated symptoms, a large body of evidence shows that these
molecules can decrease tumour growth in animal models of cancer. They do
so by modulating key cell signalling pathways involved in the control
of cancer cell proliferation and survival. In addition, cannabinoids
inhibit angiogenesis and decrease metastasis in various tumour types in
laboratory animals. In this review, we discuss the current understanding
of cannabinoids as antitumour agents, focusing on recent discoveries
about their molecular mechanisms of action, including resistance
mechanisms and opportunities for their use in combination therapy. Those
observations have already contributed to the foundation for the
development of the first clinical studies that will analyze the safety
and potential clinical benefit of cannabinoids as anticancer agents.
KEYWORDS:
Cannabinoids; angiogenesis; apoptosis; autophagy; cell proliferation; cell signalling; combination therapy- PMID:
- 27022311
- PMCID:
- PMC4791144
- DOI:
- 10.3747/co.23.3080
