Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is extensively studied in neuroscience and clinical use of cannabinoid derivatives as substances with remarkable spasmolytic effects in multiple sclerosis and antiemetic potential in cancer therapy as well as pain-relieving properties is broadly acknowledged
Highlights
Even though the use of cannabinoids as medicinal products has an almost 5000 year old documented tradition dating back to the Chinese emperor Shen Nung[1], and clinical efficacy with respect to spasmolytic activity and pain relief, is recognized since the early 19th century even in European academic medicine – today clinical use is still under intense debate and research is hampered by legal restrictions in many countries. more than 100 natural cannabinoid derivatives are known[2,3]
Interactions with signaling pathways involved in programmed cell death, angiogenesis, metastasis or anti-tumor immunity make it highly suggestive that cannabinoids may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer
Competing data describe an anti-tumorigenic rescue mechanism of the endocannabinoid system in an attempt to induce programmed cell death and antiproliferation in cancer cells[8,9,10,30,33,34]. To make it even more complex – accumulating evidence suggests, that in cells that physiologically express cannabinoid receptors (CB) receptors at similar densities as cancer cells, distinct different pathways are activated upon cannabinoid exposition resulting in different cell fate, induction of apoptosis in tumor tissue – whereas physiologic tissue remains unaffected by apoptosis[3,8,11,12,35,36,37,38,39]
Summary
Promises and pitfalls of cannabinoids as agents with potential anticancer efficacy Lara A. Of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, Rheumatology and Pulmology, Tübingen, Germany University Hospital Tübingen, Dept. of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, Rheumatology and Pulmology, Tübingen, Germany
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