CBD oil has long been utilised for its various therapeutic effects, but what about its effect on cancer?

Here, we discuss how CBD oil shows promise to lower some risk factors for cancer and mitigate cancer treatment side effects.

CBD oil is a type of cannabinoid derived from cannabis. While there is continuous controversy surrounding CBD due to recreational marijuana use and the side effects that arise due to this, there is also growing awareness of CBD’s various benefits. Unlike the cannabinoid THC, CBD does not create the “high” feeling of intoxication and has been involved in many therapeutic uses, varying from mental to physical. Some potential medical benefits of CBD oil include anxiety and stress relief and pain relief, including both chronic and muscle pain. CBD can even have neuroprotective effects.

Cancer is the growth and spread of abnormal cells, and it is one of the more prevalent non-communicable diseases in modern society. These abnormal cells can be malignant or tumor cells and can destroy body tissue by spreading and invading. While there are over 100 types of different cancers, some of the more common ones are breast, skin, colon, and prostate cancer. The high rate of cancer prevalence worldwide leads to a similarly high mortality rate: about one out of every six deaths is attributed to cancer. Because of this, identifying and developing effective treatments for prevention and the subsequent side effects of cancer is of the utmost importance.

Studies on Cancer and CBD Oil

Ongoing research looking at CBD and cancer is primarily focused on two categories. Firstly, whether CBD can slow or even stop cancer growth, and secondly, whether CBD can relieve some of the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment, such as pain, nausea, and anxiety.

Cannabinoids have the potential to be used as an anti-inflammatory for skin conditions, with possible anti-cancer effects. Skin inflammation often leads to an increased risk of skin cancer due to increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation cascades, amongst other factors. Studies have confirmed this by showing inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and chemokines to be involved in the survival and invasion of skin cancer cells. Cannabinoids have been shown to combat this and produce anti-inflammatory effects, acting as protective agents in neuroinflammatory disorders, making them an excellent candidate for skin cancer treatment.

A 2014 study looked at experimental models of colon cancer in vivo and suggested that CBD may inhibit colorectal cancer cell proliferation, and it had no effect on healthy cells. Similarly, a 2019 study showed CBD to induce apoptosis by regulating various anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins, decreasing overall tumour volume.

In females, breast cancer is a leading cause of death and the most common cancer worldwide. Cannabinoids have shown to have a modulatory effect on hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells by involving themselves within receptor-dependent and independent regulation of invasion and proliferation, both crucial hallmarks of cancer growth. In particular, CBD was shown to ultimately result in activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway present in breast cancer cells, leading to cell death. The 2011 study also outlined CBD’s role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This process is crucial since ROS inhibition blocks the activation of autophagy and apoptosis, meaning damaged cells can be cleared out, and cell death can occur in diseased cells.

Lung cancer is another cancer with a high prevalence and mortality rate worldwide. Ninety per cent of lung cancers can be attributed to the toxins associated with tobacco smoking, amongst other factors, such as exposure to chemical agents or radiation. A recent study showed the expression levels of cannabinoid receptors to be a potential marker of survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. CBD was also able to inhibit the expression and growth of epidermal growth factor receptors in lung cancer cells.

CBD Oil as a Preventative Treatment

With the rise in the prevalence of numerous cancers, more attention has been given to preventing this disease. It is well acknowledged that cancer development is highly influenced by lifestyle choices, such as diet, exercise, and stress levels. Prevention of cancer is vital, as once the tumour cells start to spread and increase it can be very rapid and uncontrollable.

Some common preventative treatments include a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular self-exams, especially for breast and skin cancer. Most of these cancer prevention techniques are useful, as they help lower several key risk factors for developing cancer. These include elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, inflammation within the body, and obesity.

Cholesterol

A 2011 study described the potential relationship between CBD use and cholesterol metabolism-related genes, suggesting that CBD treatment can regulate cholesterol homeostasis in microglial cells.

Blood Pressure

Persistent high blood pressure is often associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including lung, oral, and colon cancer. The research seems to be slightly more conclusive regarding lowering blood pressure. A 2017 study involving nine male volunteers were either administered 600mg of CBD or a placebo. Cardiovascular parameters were then monitored. The results showed that acute administration of CBD reduces resting blood pressure and blood pressure in response to stress stimulus.

Because CBD is a vasodilator, it can cause relaxed arterial walls, allowing vasodilation in your blood vessels to occur. This allows blood to flow with more ease, subsequently lowering the pressure needed for circulation and reducing blood pressure.

Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is involved in cancer growth, as overtime, cell damage can occur, subsequently affecting how cells divide and grow. This, in turn, may affect the presence of tumours and their growth. Alongside its effects on skin inflammation, CBD can act as an effective anti-inflammatory agent for arthritis, vascular inflammation, and nervous tissue inflammation.

Cannabinoids, including CBD, have been seen to suppress inflammatory responses, which reduces symptoms of diseases involving inflammation. This is due to the properties of cannabinoids regulated through pathways involving suppression of cytokines in inflammatory sites and activating apoptosis in immune cells. Thus, CBD may be a beneficial preventative treatment for cancers that affect chronic inflammation within the body by inhibiting tumour growth.

Obesity

Obesity is often linked to cancer due to several factors. Obese individuals often have increased insulin and insulin growth factors, which may help in the development of some cancers. These individuals also are more likely to have low-level inflammation, linked with an increased risk of many cancers. While obesity is mainly controlled by lifestyle factors, such as a healthy diet and sufficient exercise levels, many studies have investigated the relationship between obesity and cannabinoids, including CBD. CBD has been shown to affect weight loss and weight gain since one of CBD treatment’s main side effects is appetite change, both increased and decreased.

Out of a cross-sectional study of CBD oil users, around 6.5% found that they had increased hunger as a side effect, while animal studies showed that CBD had influences on metabolism rate and reduced food intake. This was because of the interaction between CBD and CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain and lymphoid tissue, due to the receptors playing crucial roles in food intake and body metabolism.

CBD Oil as a Treatment for Cancer Side Effects

Perhaps one of the most challenging stages of patient care required for individuals with cancer is dealing with the numerous side effects of the cancer disease itself and subsequent treatments. Cancer treatment options are vast, but they can include hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments are highly taxing on the body and often result in a myriad of side effects, including insomnia, nausea, decreased appetite, chronic pain and most importantly - they can encourage new cancer growth.

Insomnia

Insomnia can be triggered by certain medications, which can disturb your natural sleep-wake cycle. This can then lead to excessive grogginess and fatigue during the day, with increased feelings of anxiety, since insufficient sleep is often linked to poor mental health. CBD may help encourage the feeling of sleeplessness in individuals on cancer medications, therefore regulating their circadian rhythm. A large case study published in 2019 looked at whether CBD could reduce anxiety and improve sleep in 72 individuals. After a month of consuming one CBD capsule daily, around 67% of patients reported better sleep and 80% reported lowered anxiety levels.

The main reason for this mechanism is the relationship between cannabinoids like CBD and how they can interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. This system regulates a range of processes, including sleep, mood, and memory. Several benefits can occur when this is activated, such as increased muscle relaxation and mood stabilization.

Appetite

Appetite loss, poor appetite, and nausea are some of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. Long-term appetite complications can be detrimental to the patient, as they could lead to insufficient nutrient intake and fatigue due to muscle loss. Most studies that research the relationship between CBD and appetite have varying data, with some showing weight gain and others showing distinct weight loss. Despite the inconclusive research, one thing is for sure: these effects on hunger and appetite vary depending on the individual, their genetics, and the type of CBD product used.

The relationship between CBD and nausea seems to be more straightforward. Research from 2011 suggests CBD and its interaction with the endocannabinoid system lead to the regulation of vomiting and nausea in both humans and animals.

Pain

Chronic and persistent pain can be highly debilitating to the cancer patient’s quality of life. The research on topical CBD products like CBD oil and their effects on pain management has been promising, with many recent studies showing CBD oil’s role in reducing inflammation and overall discomfort due to various health conditions like cancer.

A 2018 review looked at studies conducted from 1975 to 2018 to assess how CBD works in relieving chronic pain. A range of pain conditions was examined, including neuropathic and cancer pain. It was concluded that CBD was effective in overall pain management across the field, with little to no adverse side effects.

Final thoughts

Cancer is a highly complex disease, with many risk factors and complications that can arise throughout diagnosis and treatment. The formation of tumour cells within the body also involves many regulatory processes, such as cell division, cell death, and metabolism.

Studies have shown promising results in lowering several key risk factors for cancer, such as inflammation and blood pressure, with results displaying that CBD use has increased in popularity in recent years due to the fact patients are using this supplement as an aid for cancer treatment.

Whilst, we understand that CBD alone can not reverse cancer, it can assist in the prevention of cancer formulation and stopping metastasis in a cancer patient.