The Endocannabinoid System: A Target for Cancer Treatment

Laezza, Chiara; Pagano, Cristina; Navarra, Giovanna; Pastorino, Olga; Proto, Maria; Fiore, Donatella; Piscopo, Chiara; Bifulco, Maurizio

doi:10.3390/ijms21030747

Cited by 96 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 127 publications

(175 reference statements)

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“…Despite all invested efforts, colorectal cancer (CRC) is still the third most common malignant disease in the world with around 1.8 million new cases in 2018, and in second place by mortality induced by cancer with around 0.9 million deaths [59]. The ECS's involvement in the development, progression and treatment of CRC has been evaluated in terms of the implication of cannabinoid receptors, endo-and synthetic cannabinoids, as well as various ECS-induces signalling molecules [60,61].…”

Section: Gastrointestinal Malignanciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Interplay between Cancer Biology and the Endocannabinoid System—Significance for Cancer Risk, Prognosis and Response to Treatment

Moreno

Čavić

Krivokuća

et al. 2020

Cancers

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The various components of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), such as the cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), cannabinoid ligands, and the signalling network behind it, are implicated in several tumour-related states, both as favourable and unfavourable factors. This review analyses the ECS’s complex involvement in the susceptibility to cancer, prognosis, and response to treatment, focusing on its relationship with cancer biology in selected solid cancers (breast, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, prostate cancer, thoracic, thyroid, CNS tumours, and melanoma). Changes in the expression and activation of CBRs, as well as their ability to form distinct functional heteromers affect the cell’s tumourigenic potential and their signalling properties, leading to pharmacologically different outcomes. Thus, the same ECS component can exert both protective and pathogenic effects in different tumour subtypes, which are often pathologically driven by different biological factors. The use of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids as anti-cancer agents, and the range of effects they might induce (cell death, regulation of angiogenesis, and invasion or anticancer immunity), depend in great deal on the tumour type and the specific ECS component that they target. Although an attractive target, the use of ECS components in anti-cancer treatment is still interlinked with many legal and ethical issues that need to be considered.

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Section: Gastrointestinal Malignanciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Interplay between Cancer Biology and the Endocannabinoid System—Significance for Cancer Risk, Prognosis and Response to Treatment

Moreno

Čavić

Krivokuća

et al. 2020

Cancers

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“…Additional components, such as the endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase, other cannabinoid-activated G protein-coupled receptors and members of the transient receptor family, among others, could also contribute to the effects of cannabinoids, and are therefore identified as possible targets involving this class of compounds. The effects of the endocannabinoid system and its potential involvement in cancer have been discussed in several recent publications and only some highlights of the general functions and effects related to cancer are therefore provided here [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system has been implicated in several diseases, including cancer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids Present in Cannabis

Tomko

Whynot

Ellis

et al. 2020

Cancers

126

109

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In recent years, and even more since its legalization in several jurisdictions, cannabis and the endocannabinoid system have received an increasing amount of interest related to their potential exploitation in clinical settings. Cannabinoids have been suggested and shown to be effective in the treatment of various conditions. In cancer, the endocannabinoid system is altered in numerous types of tumours and can relate to cancer prognosis and disease outcome. Additionally, cannabinoids display anticancer effects in several models by suppressing the proliferation, migration and/or invasion of cancer cells, as well as tumour angiogenesis. However, the therapeutic use of cannabinoids is currently limited to the treatment of symptoms and pain associated with chemotherapy, while their potential use as cytotoxic drugs in chemotherapy still requires validation in patients. Along with cannabinoids, cannabis contains several other compounds that have also been shown to exert anti-tumorigenic actions. The potential anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, present in cannabis, are explored in this literature review.

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“…Other beneficial effects of CBD in lung diseases include inhibition of (1) inflammation and/or (2) remodeling processes, demonstrated in mice acute lung injury [ 17 ] and/or experimental allergic asthma [ 18 ] and its anti-proliferative properties, i.e., in lung cancer [ 19 , 20 ]. Moreover, CBD inhibited platelet aggregation ex vivo induced by collagen in rats [ 21 ] and by adenosine or epinephrine in humans [ 22 ] and decreased expression and secretion of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in human lung carcinoma [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabidiol Ameliorates Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats

Sadowska

Baranowska-Kuczko

Gromotowicz-Popławska

et al. 2020

IJMS

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is known for its vasorelaxant (including in the human pulmonary artery), anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of our study was to examine the potential preventive effect of chronic CBD administration (10 mg/kg/day for three weeks) on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) rats. PH was connected with elevation of right ventricular systolic pressure; right ventricle hypertrophy; lung edema; pulmonary artery remodeling; enhancement of the vasoconstrictor and decreasing vasodilatory responses; increases in plasma concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 and leukocyte count; and a decrease in blood oxygen saturation. CBD improved all abovementioned changes induced by PH except right ventricle hypertrophy and lung edema. In addition, CBD increased lung levels of some endocannabinoids (anandamide, N-arachidonoyl glycine, linolenoyl ethanolamide, palmitoleoyl ethanolamide and eicosapentaenoyl ethanolamide but not 2-arachidonoylglycerol). CBD did not affect the cardiopulmonary system of control rats or other parameters of blood morphology in PH. Our data suggest that CBD ameliorates MCT-induced PH in rats by improving endothelial efficiency and function, normalization of hemostatic alterations and reduction of enhanced leukocyte count determined in PH. In conclusion, CBD may be a safe, promising therapeutic or adjuvant therapy agent for the treatment of human pulmonary artery hypertension.

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The Endocannabinoid System: A Target for Cancer Treatment

Cited by 96 publications

References 127 publications

The Interplay between Cancer Biology and the Endocannabinoid System—Significance for Cancer Risk, Prognosis and Response to Treatment

The Interplay between Cancer Biology and the Endocannabinoid System—Significance for Cancer Risk, Prognosis and Response to Treatment

Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids Present in Cannabis

Cannabidiol Ameliorates Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats

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