A new study is looking at cannabidiol (CBD) as a possible treatment for hard to treat brain cancer. The study examined glioblastoma, an aggressive and often lethal form of brain cancer. Despite advancements in treatment and therapy, the mortality rate for glioblastoma remains largely unchanged.
"Further research and treatment options are urgently needed for patients afflicted by brain cancer," said Chase Gross, a student in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Science program at Colorado State University. "Our work shows that CBD has the potential to provide an effective, synergistic glioblastoma therapy option and that it should continue to be vigorously studied."
Human cancer cells are similar to canine cancer cells, so the researchers studied both human and canine glioblastoma cells in the study. They tested CBD isolate (100% CBD and CBD extract) against the glioblastoma cells. "Our experiments showed that CBD slows cancer cell growth and is toxic to both canine and human glioblastoma cell lines," said Mr. Gross. "Importantly, the differences in anti-cancer effects between CBD isolate and extract appear to be negligible."
The CBD induced cell death in the cancer cells. For all of the cells they studied, the researchers noted that the cell death was marked by large, swollen intracellular vesicles prior to the membrane bulging and then breaking down. The researchers think that CBD targets the cancer cell’s mitochondria. Mitochondria are energy-producing structures; CBD can cause the mitochondria to malfunction and release harmful reactive oxygen.
"CBD has been zealously studied in cells for its anticancer properties over the last decade," said Mr. Gross. "Our study helps complete the in vitro puzzle, allowing us to move forward in studying CBD's effects on glioblastoma in a clinical setting using live animal models. This could lead to new treatments that would help both people and dogs that have this very serious cancer."
Mr. Gross was supposed to present the results of this study at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting, but it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is published in this month’s issue of FASEB Journal.