Share on PinterestA case study relates the use of CBD oil to the regression of lung cancer. VISUALSPECTRUM / Stocksy
- A case study relates the daily use of cannabidiol oil (CBD) to the regression of lung cancer in a woman in her 80s who rejected conventional treatment.
- Researchers cannot definitively confirm that CBD oil caused the tumor to shrink.
- More research is needed to define the mechanism of action, the effects on different types of cancer, adverse reactions and the optimal dose and routes of administration.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds present in the plant Cannabis sativa (C. sativa). Some people use cannabis therapeutically to treat seizures, pain, inflammation, spasms, and anxiety.
CBD and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two main cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. However, CBD does not produce a euphoric, or “high,” feeling that people associate with cannabis use.
CBD oil is a concentrated extract derived from cannabis leaves or flowers dissolved in a consumable oil, such as olive, hemp or sunflower oil. There are different types of CBD oil that contain different concentrations of cannabinoids.
CBD isolates only contain CBD. Full-spectrum CBD products contain compounds from all parts of the C. sativa plant, with less than 0.3% THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD products include most of the same compounds as full-spectrum ones, but only amounts of THC remain.
Broad-spectrum products can produce greater clinical effects than CBD isolates due to the entourage effect: the combination of cannabinoids has a more pronounced impact than individual ones.
Cannabinoids interact with the body’s internal cannabinoid system, which experts call the endocannabinoid system. This system modulates:
Currently, some people with cancer may use cannabinoids for supportive care to treat pain and nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy.
Doctors in the UK recently published an article in BMJ Case Reports. The case report describes an 80-year-old woman with lung cancer who experienced a tumor regression while taking CBD oil.
He also has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis and has received medication to treat these conditions.
The woman reported smoking just over a pack of cigarettes a week, or 68 packs a year, before and after diagnosis. In June and July 2018, doctors examined the woman, which included a CT scan, a PET, an MRI, and a biopsy, to stage and confirm the diagnosis.
Doctors came to a diagnosis of stage IIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Initial computed tomography showed a 41-millimeter, or 1.6-inch, nodule in the central lobe of a woman’s right lung.
Tests did not reveal any lymph node involvement or metastasis, which is when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. For this reason, doctors recommended a curative treatment.
Treatment for NSCLC may include surgery, radiofrequency ablation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Doctors repeated computed tomography of the chest in September 2018, which showed a reduction in cancer of the right middle lobe to 33 mm (1.3 inches) and two new nodules in the left apex and right upper lobe.
The woman refused surgical removal of the lobe due to the risks of surgery. She also refused treatment with radiofrequency ablation because of the side effects her late husband had experienced from radiation therapy.
Doctors decided to monitor the patient, performing CT scans every 3-6 months. During the 2.5-year follow-up period, computed tomography showed a progressive decrease in the initial nodule of the right middle lobe from 41 mm (1.6 inches) in June 2018 to 10 mm (0.4 inches) in February of 2021.
At this time, the woman revealed that she began taking CBD oil at a dose of 0.5 milliliters orally three times a day and occasionally twice a day, shortly after her diagnosis.
The active ingredients specified by the supplier were THC (19.5%), CBD (20.05%) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (23.8%).
According to the supplier’s advice, the woman did not take CBD oil with hot foods or drinks, because she wanted to avoid “feeling stoned”. He reported decreased appetite while taking CBD oil.
The woman did not change her diet, lifestyle or prescribed medications during this time. He also reported continuing to smoke a pack of cigarettes a week during the surveillance period.
In an interview with Medical News Today, the lead author, Dra. Kah Ling Liew, in the Breathing Department at Princess Alexandra Hospital in the UK, commented:
“We definitely did not expect to see such an amazing tumor regression without conventional cancer treatments and no other changes in health or lifestyle. […] Multiple studies in animal models to date have shown conflicting results, with some cases reducing the growth of cancer cells and others finding accelerated growth of cancer cells. “
MNT also spoke with Dr. Jack Jacoub, medical oncologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
Dr Jacoub, who did not take part in the study, said: “It definitely causes hypotheses and further research is needed before it can become a recommended [treatment] option for cancer patients. From the point of view of the strength of scientific evidence, a case report deals with the weakest strength, and therefore you should take into account what you read in this context. “
He stressed the need for randomized controlled clinical trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of CBD oil in treating cancer. Dr. Jacoub explained: “You enroll patients [meeting preset criteria] and observe what happens to their disease, their progression-free survival, and all the endpoints in cancer trials. This is […] the only way I could see [CBD oil] be mainstream [treatment]”.
Dr. Liew added: “The optimal dosage, form, route of administration and combination of CBD / THC for each specific type of cancer (brain, lung, liver, prostate, etc.) need to be investigated and determined. There will not be a single treatment that works for all forms of cancer.
Dr Liew told MNT: “Future studies should take into account possible ingredient inconsistencies between CBD oils and ensure […] when replicating studies that use identical components ”.
Dr. Liew continued: “Physicians should be aware that their patients may be taking unconventional and unlicensed treatments without their knowledge. It is always important to consider the patient’s options when discussing treatment options, that is, to be open and honest about the potential benefits and side effects of treatments. “
