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Cannabinoids combat brain cancer cells

Last updated: 12:43 20 Jun 2022 BST, First published: 12:32 20 Jun 2022 BST

MCG Pharmaceuticals has reported some new data from preclinical laboratory studies done by its research collaborator, Slovenia's National Institute of Biology. The data highlights the possible use of cannabinoids in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the aggressive, and most common, brain cancer. They used cancer cells cultured from biopsy samples taken from 18 patients. This makes the data more relevant for the future design of clinical studies. Note that these are not clinical trials.

The collaboration tested different combinations of cannabinoids with and without a chemotherapeutic agent (undisclosed). The experiments examined cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), a less common cannabinoid. The compounds were used individually and as a combination. CBG has no psychotropic effects but appears to activate a different set of receptors than CBD (Nachnani et al (2021)). CBD and CBG were then examined as 3:1 and 3:2 ratio combinations. More than 5,800 individual tests were performed.

The results suggest there is a marked effect on cell viability over 150μM with apoptosis (cell death) reported as being observed in both tumour cells and tumour stem cells. Tumour stem cells are more resistant to normal cancer therapies and might regenerate the tumour if they survive therapy. The most interesting observation is that while a ratio of CBD to CBG of 3:1 appears very similar to either compound alone, a 3:2 combination ratio appears to have greater inhibition of cell viability. There was no additional cytotoxic effect from an undisclosed chemotherapeutic. The lowered cancer cell viability in drug-resistant tumours would be clinically very interesting. There are few other treatments and developments, a PI3K inhibitor (paxalisib (Kazia)), shows promise in Phase 2.

We note that the findings, although both interesting and promising, are still early stage. Both CBD and CBG are very fat-soluble so hard to administer; it may be difficult to deliver high enough doses to the brain. MGC plans to use a nano-emulsifying formulation technology from Graft Polymer to improve systemic absorption. This Graft Polymer formulation will separately need preclinical development and regulatory approval for trials. CBG will also need a full data package. CBD is well known but MGC will need documentation.

 

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