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Delta 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol as potential curative agents for cancer: A critical examination of the preclinical literature
Author(s) -
Fowler CJ
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt.84
Subject(s) - cannabidiol , cannabis , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , medicine , tetrahydrocannabinol , cancer , cancer treatment , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , oncology , cannabinoid , psychiatry , receptor
An Internet search with search words “cannabis cures cancer” produce a wealth of sites claiming that cannabis has this effect. These sites are freely accessible to the general public and thus contribute to public opinion. But do delta 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 ‐THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) cure cancer? In the absence of clinical data other than a safety study and case reports, preclinical data should be evaluated in terms of its predictive value. Using a strict approach where only concentrations and/or models relevant to the clinical situation are considered, the current preclinical data do not yet provide robust evidence that systemically administered Δ 9 ‐THC will be useful for the curative treatment of cancer. There is more support for an intratumoral route of administration of higher doses of Δ 9 ‐THC. CBD produces effects in relevant concentrations and models, although more data are needed concerning its use in conjunction with other treatment strategies.