Dr. Cristina Sánchez speaking at Cannafest about atitumoral effects od cannabinoids.
Abstract: There is compelling evidence indicating that cancer is one of the pathologies that may obtain clinical benefit from cannabis-related compounds. First, it is well known that cannabinoids have palliative effects in cancer patients. In particular, they inhibit chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, they inhibit cancer-associated pain and they stimulate appetite and attenuate wasting. But the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in oncology might not be restricted to their aforementioned palliative actions. Thus, numerous studies carried out during the past few years have provided evidence showing that THC and other cannabinoids induce the death of cancer cells in culture and reduce tumor growth and progression in a wide range of animal models of cancer. The mechanisms of anti-tumor action include the induction of cancer cell death, an effect that is not produced in non-cancer cells, the inhibition of angiogenesis and the blockade of invasion and metastasis. At this point, combined efforts from basic researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies should be made to transfer this knowledge from the labs to the clinics.