Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and accounts for around 10% of all cancer cases. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Current treatments for the condition include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that CBD has antitumor potential against the disease. As different mutations can impact antitumor effects, and as CBD can bind to multiple receptors, how different colorectal cancer mutations respond to CBD remains unknown.
In the current study, researchers investigated the effects of CBD on four colorectal cancer cell lines harboring several common mutations. The cells were treated with a variety of CBD concentrations. Ultimately, CBD was found to induce apoptosis and halt proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner.
CBD demonstrated strong antitumor effects in all of the tested cell lines, and its activity was unaffected by different mutations. Further experimentation revealed that CBD primarily acts on colorectal cancer cells via the CB2 receptor.
The researchers noted that while the findings support the role of CBD in treating colorectal cancer, further studies are needed to identify the underlying mechanisms of action as well as clinical efficacy and applicability.
“Achieving therapeutic effects in human and in vivo models remains a significant challenge in CBD research due to its hydrophobic nature and low bioavailability. Therefore, the development of novel delivery methods would be required to achieve the targeted pharmacokinetic profile of CBD," wrote the researchers in their study.
"Despite these challenges, this study provides a strong foundation for future research on CBD’s potential in the treatment of coloreactal cancer,” they concluded.
