Use of Cannabis Derivatives in Cancer Patients

In cancer, these cells multiply autonomously, without any control, in an irregular manner. They invade local and neighboring tissues, causing metastasis and high morbidity and mortality rates. The definition of cancer is the loss of control of an organized system, where its cells alter by losing the apoptosis program or "cell suicide" resulting in this dreaded and lethal disease.

Epidemiologically, cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the world. For 2018, there were a total of 18.1 million new cases and 9.5 million deaths. Considering the projected high statistics regarding cancer in the future is essential to develop therapeutic alternatives to minimize tumor growth and adverse effects from chemotherapies that mean less risk to a patient's life. At present, there are no specific drugs to inhibit tumor growth or absolute pain management in patients with terminal cancer.

Remarkably, thanks to modern scientific research, the anti-tumor role of the endocannabinoid system in cancer disease, as well as the relief of other symptoms from conventional treatments, has been established. The endocannabinoid system has emerging modulatory activity on proteins and nuclear factors. It regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Thus, it is possible to think that this system controls fundamental homeostatic processes and neoplastic transformation. Natural cannabinoids and endocannabinoids, synthetic CB1 agonists, and other molecules exhibiting indirect cannabinoid agonist activity (endocannabinoid transporters and cannabinoid degradation inhibitors) can limit tumor growth and progression of several types of cancer by inhibiting cell motility. These include, among others, lymphoid, thyroid, breast, prostate, skin, glioma, glioblastoma, and leukemias.

Exploring the scientific literature becomes increasingly evident that the endocannabinoid system is intimately related to elements that delay the cellular progression of cancer. There are other properties attributed to it beneficial for these patients, such as anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, sleep-regulating, and other cannabinoid effects.

Thus, using medical cannabis is a beneficial therapeutic alternative of great interest as an adjuvant in the management and treatment of cancer disease, becoming one of the most effective and safe ways to stop the progression of this disease in the future. Therefore, in this book, Pharmacology University explores the pathophysiological mechanisms that occur in cancer, its stages, how the endocannabinoid system can stop its progression, and the benefits that its administration can have in the clinical improvement of these patients.