Researchers in Thailand are reporting encouraging early results from laboratory studies using cannabis-derived compounds against ovarian cancer cells. A team from Khon Kaen University tested cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on human ovarian cancer cell lines, both separately and in combination.
The 1:1 CBD:THC mix killed a large share of cancer cells while largely sparing healthy cells, suggesting a potentially safer therapeutic window than many current drugs, which can be both toxic and only modestly effective. Mechanistic analysis showed the combination dampened the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, a key driver of ovarian tumor growth and survival, and appeared to restore activity of tumor-suppressor proteins.
The findings remain strictly preliminary and are limited to in vitro experiments, but scientists say they lay important groundwork for future cannabis-based ovarian cancer treatments. Read the original report at The News International.