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Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by cannabinoids
Author(s) -
Blázquez Cristina,
Casanova M. Llanos,
Planas Anna,
Gómez del Pulgar Teresa,
Villanueva Concepción,
FernándezAceñero María J.,
Aragonés Julián,
Huffman John W.,
Jorcano José L.,
Guzmán Manuel
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.02-0795fje
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , cannabinoid , in vivo , matrix metalloproteinase , pharmacology , vascular endothelial growth factor , cancer research , endocannabinoid system , vascular permeability , mechanism of action , neovascularization , in vitro , cannabinoid receptor , chemistry , vascular endothelial growth factor a , medicine , biology , vegf receptors , biochemistry , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , agonist
Cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana and their derivatives, induce tumor regression in rodents (8). However, the mechanism of cannabinoid antitumoral action in vivo is as yet unknown. Here we show that local administration of a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid to mice inhibits angiogenesis of malignant gliomas as determined by immunohistochemical analyses and vascular permeability assays. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that at least two mechanisms may be involved in this cannabinoid action: the direct inhibition of vascular endothelial cell migration and survival as well as the decrease of the expression of proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin‐2) and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 in the tumors. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may allow new strategies for the design of cannabinoid‐based antitumoral therapies.