Cannabinoids for cancer treatment: progress and promise

Cancer Res. 2008 Jan 15;68(2):339-42. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-2785.

Abstract

Cannabinoids are a class of pharmacologic compounds that offer potential applications as antitumor drugs, based on the ability of some members of this class to limit inflammation, cell proliferation, and cell survival. In particular, emerging evidence suggests that agonists of cannabinoid receptors expressed by tumor cells may offer a novel strategy to treat cancer. Here, we review recent work that raises interest in the development and exploration of potent, nontoxic, and nonhabit forming cannabinoids for cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Cannabinoids / classification
  • Cannabinoids / therapeutic use*
  • Glioma / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / physiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy

Substances

  • Cannabinoids
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid