Therapeutic Applications of Cannabinoids in Oncology

Cannabinoids, the active components of cannabis and their derivatives, exert palliative effects in cancer patients. The best established ones, supported by large-scale clinical trials, include inhibition of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, stimulation of appetite and attenuation of weight loss, and inhibition of pain. Today, capsules of the main active ingredient of cannabis (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; Marinol) and its synthetic analogue nabilone (CesametÒ), a standardised cannabis-based oromucosal spray (Sativex), as well as cannabis-plant preparations (medical-grade marijuana), can be prescribed in some countries for these indications. During the last years, cannabinoids have also been shown to inhibit tumour growth in some models of cancer generated in laboratory mice and rats. They do so by modulating key cancer-cell physiological processes, thereby evoking, for example, the death of cancer cells as well as an inhibition of tumour angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels into tumours) and metastasis (the colonisation of neighbouring or distant tissues by cancer cells). Overall, cannabinoids have a favourable drug safety profile and do not produce the generalized toxic effects of conventional chemotherapies. The use of cannabinoids in medicine, however, is limited by their psychoactive effects, which are well tolerated by some patients, but not by others. At the moment there is not solid evidence yet to prove that cannabinoids can be effective anti-tumour drugs to treat cancer in patients, but intense research is ongoing around the world.

Your are cordially invited to the annual conference at Cannafest, the international trade fair of cannabis and medical herbs that will take place on November 11-13, 2016 at the Prague Exhibition Holesovice. The conference presentations will be simultaneously interpreted into English and Czech.

www.cannafest.com
www.facebook.com/cannafest