TITLE:
In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Plant-Derived Cannabidiol on Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
AUTHORS:
Manju Sharma, James B. Hudson, Hans Adomat, Emma Guns, Michael E. Cox
KEYWORDS:
Prostate Cancer, Androgen Receptor, Cannabidiol (CBD), Anti-Inflammatory, CB1, CB2, Prostate Cancer Cell Lines
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.5 No.8,
July
10,
2014
ABSTRACT: Cannabinoids, the
active components of Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, have received renewed interest in
recent years due to their diverse pharmacologic activities such as cell growth
inhibition, anti-inflammatory effects and tumor regression, but their use in
chemotherapy is limited by their psychotropic activity. To date, cannabinoids
have been successfully used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting, two common
side effects that accompany chemotherapy in cancer patients. Most non-THC plant
cannabinoids e.g. cannabidiol and cannabigerol, seem to be devoid of
psychotropic properties. However, the precise pathways through which these
molecules produce an antitumor effect have not yet been fully characterized. We
therefore investigated the antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of
cannabidiol (CBD) in human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU145, PC3, and
assessed whether there is any advantage in using cannabis extracts enriched in
cannabidiol and low in THC. Results obtained in a panel of prostate cancer cell
lines clearly indicate that cannabidiol is a potent inhibitor of cancer cell
growth, with significantly lower potency in non-cancer cells. The mRNA expression
level of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF), PSA (prostate specific antigen) are
significantly higher in human prostate cell lines. Treatment with Cannabis
extract containing high CBD down regulates CB1, CB2, VEGF, PSA,
pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokine IL-6/IL-8. Our overall findings support
the concept that cannabidiol, which lacks psychotropic activity, may possess
anti-inflammatory property and down regulates both cannabinoid receptors, PSA,
VEGF, IL-6 and IL-8. High CBD cannabis extracts are cytotoxic to androgen
responsive LNCaP cells and may effectively inhibit spheroid formation in
cancer stem cells. This activity may contribute to its
anticancer and chemosensitizing effect against prostate cancer. Cannabidiol and
other non-habit forming cannabinoids could be used as novel therapeutic agents
for the treatment of prostate cancer.