This concept builds on the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of cannabis in managing symptoms associated with various types of cancer.
In the past two months, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recently granted $3.2 million to a team of researchers delving into the effects of medical marijuana in breast cancer treatment.
This groundbreaking research, led by Dr. Jennifer Hu, professor and division director in the Department of Public Health Science at the University of Miami School of Medicine, aims to shed light on the potential benefits and risks of integrating medical cannabis into breast cancer care.
The University of Florida Health Center has reported that researchers hypothesize that medical marijuana could significantly improve treatment-related symptoms and clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients by targeting and modulating the inflammasome/inflammatory pathway.
This concept builds on the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of cannabis in managing symptoms associated with various types of cancer.
The NCI's latest grant follows closely on the heels of another $3.2 million award to a psychologist at the University at Buffalo. This researcher is investigating the effects of cannabis use in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment, a groundbreaking approach that leverages the immune system to combat cancer with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
The five-year U01 award to the UF Health Cancer Center and the University of Miami Comprehensive Cancer Center marks a significant step forward in understanding how medical cannabis impacts breast cancer patients.
Dr. Jennifer Hu leads a 12-member team that will meticulously study the effects of medical marijuana in a cohort of 600 patients during and after breast cancer treatment.
Recent studies have highlighted the potential of cannabinoids in cancer treatment. Cannabotech, an Israeli biotech company, reported impressive results in March 2022, demonstrating that their "Integrative-Colon" products, a blend of cannabinoids and mushroom extracts, effectively killed over 90% of colon cancer cells in cell models.
Additionally, a study conducted by physicians at Hadassah Medical Center in December 2021 revealed a sixfold improvement in killing breast cancer cells when combining specific Cannabotech's medical cannabis products with standard oncology treatments.
The researchers involved in this ambitious study will analyze data from 600 patients, half of whom are medical marijuana and cannabinoid users, while the other half are not.
By examining patient-reported outcomes, clinical-reported outcomes, and adverse reactions, the team aims to provide comprehensive insights into the effects of medical marijuana on breast cancer patients of varied racial and ethnic backgrounds.
As Dr. Dejana Braithwaite, associate director for cancer population sciences at the UF Health Cancer Center, pointed out, "As many as 40% of U.S. cancer patients use medical marijuana to manage cancer-related symptoms, yet we know very little about its effects during and after cancer treatments."
This study hopes to bridge that knowledge gap, offering crucial answers to questions about the role of medical marijuana in cancer care.
The importance of this research cannot be overstated, with breast cancer responsible for about 30% of all new female cancer cases each year and the most common cancer among women in the United States.
Progressive and innovative, this study has the potential to revolutionize cancer care, providing evidence-based insights that can inform medical practices, enhance patient care, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding the use of medical marijuana in the realm of oncology.