The Effectiveness and Safety of Medical Cannabis for Treating Cancer Related Symptoms in Oncology Patients

Abstract

The use of medical cannabis (MC) to treat cancer-related symptoms is rising. However, there is a lack of long-term trials to assess the benefits and safety of MC treatment in this population. In this work, we followed up prospectively and longitudinally on the effectiveness and safety of MC treatment. Oncology patients reported on multiple symptoms before and after MC treatment initiation at one-, three-, and 6-month follow-ups. Oncologists reported on the patients' disease characteristics. Intention-to-treat models were used to assess changes in outcomes from baseline. MC treatment was initiated by 324 patients and 212, 158 and 126 reported at follow-ups. Most outcome measures improved significantly during MC treatment for most patients (p < 0.005). Specifically, at 6 months, total cancer symptoms burden declined from baseline by a median of 18%, from 122 (82–157) at baseline to 89 (45–138) at endpoint (−18.98; 95%CI= −26.95 to −11.00; p < 0.001). Reported adverse effects were common but mostly non-serious and remained stable during MC treatment. The results of this study suggest that MC treatment is generally safe for oncology patients and can potentially reduce the burden of associated symptoms with no serious MC-related adverse effects.

‘What price do you put on your health?’: Medical cannabis, financial toxicity and patient perspectives on medication access in advanced cancer

“… 1 Following 2016 legislation permitting limited access to cannabis for research and medicinal purposes in Australia, 2 interest in the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis (MC) as an intervention for relief from symptom burden associated with cancer and advanced cancer has increased substantially. 3 , 4 , 5 Several clinical trials have subsequently been initiated. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 Data from trials, especially randomized controlled trials, however, can be ‘difficult to transfer to real‐life experiences’.…”

Potential, Limitations and Risks of Cannabis-Derived Products in Cancer Treatment

“…A prospective study among patients with non-cancer pain showed a reasonable safety profile when cannabis was used for a period of one year [ 157 ]. In addition, in the limitedly available clinical studies with patients with cancer, cannabis products generally seem to be tolerated well [ 89 , 158 ]. In a phase I randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers, a single dose of up to 6000 mg and multiple doses of 1500 mg twice daily were well-tolerated.…”

Towards dsRNA‐integrated protection of medical Cannabis crops: considering human safety, recent‐ and developing RNAi methods, and research inroads

“…Two key phytocannabinoid compounds of medicinal interest found in Cannabis plants include Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), both of which are used to prevent and alleviate a variety of ailments 1 . Pain relief is the most commonly cited reason for medical use of Cannabis 2–5 . Considerable evidence also suggests that cannabinoids exert anticancer effects at multiple levels of tumour progression, 6,7 although Xiong et al 8 .…”

“…1 Pain relief is the most commonly cited reason for medical use of Cannabis. [2][3][4][5] Considerable evidence also suggests that cannabinoids exert anticancer effects at multiple levels of tumour progression, 6,7 although Xiong et al 8 recently revealed a mechanism suggesting that Cannabis and cannabinoids should be avoided during immunotherapy. There also is a growing body of evidence supporting Cannabis and cannabinoids for treating patients suffering from drug addiction, 9 multiple sclerosis, 10 anorexia nervosa, 11 epilepsy 12 and Tourette syndrome.…”