A study conducted by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and RMIT has investigated programmed cell death caused by cannabis extract cannabinoid PHEC-66 in in-vitro melanoma tumours.
The study, which formed part of a PhD project by RMIT’s Dr Ava Bachari, found that the extract binds to receptors on particular melanoma cells that control the growth of cells at two pivotal phases, increasing the amount of damage to the cells and subsequently increasing the rate of cell death.
CDU pharmaceutical lecturer and co-author Dr Nazim Nassar said this damage effectively manipulated the cell into killing itself.
“The damage to the melanoma cell prevents it from dividing into new cells and instead begins a programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis,” Dr Nassar said.
“This is a growing area of important research because we need to understand cannabis extracts as much as possible, especially their potential to function as anticancer agents.
“If we know how they react to cancer cells, particularly in the cause of cell death, we can refine treatment techniques to be more specific, responsive and effective.”
Beyond stigma
While this study was an in-vitro test involving cells in a laboratory environment, it provides a powerful proof of concept for the use of cannabis extracts in oncology.
The cancer-fighting effect of cannabis has long been debated, but research into the topic was stymied by harsh regulation until very recently.
Dr Nassar is a specialist in cancer cell biology, pharmacology, drug delivery systems and drug positions and dynamics.
He has co-authored several papers on the use of cannabinoids in melanoma treatment, the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in prostate cancer treatment and an overview of current melanoma treatment.
He said the next challenge for cannabinoid PHEC-66 would be developing a targeted delivery system to the melanoma cells in preparation for pre-clinical trials.
Dr Nassar believes the use of cannabinoids in oncology could revolutionise cancer treatment.
“Clinical uses of cannabis extracts include treatment for anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Intensive research into its potential for killing melanoma cells is only the start as we investigate how this knowledge can be applied to treating different types of cancers,” he said.
A long road ahead
While cannabinoid PHEC-66’s effect on cancer appears to be clinically significant in in-vitro tests, it will need to pass a raft of pre-clinical and clinical trials to determine its efficacy in a human patient.
There is also a pressing need to establish safety and tolerability parameters around these new treatments, which are mostly untested in a clinical setting.
Lead author and RMIT biotechnologist Professor Nitin Mantri highlighted the importance of long-term follow-up to ensure the sustained effectiveness and safety of the PHEC-66 extract in cancer treatment over extended periods.
He also emphasised the critical collaboration with Dr Nassar and pointed out the need for support and sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies to advance PHEC-66 through clinical trials and potentially register it as a medicine.