Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive cancer of the primary brain tumors. The incidence of this cancer continues to increase, and the average survival rate of people diagnosed with GB remains around 16 months. Current standard of care includes treatment of the tumor using a combination of irradiation and the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ), which generally prolongs patient survival by 2 months. Alternative therapies being explored include cannabinoids, which demonstrate a number of anti-cancer properties and are already used in palliative care. CBG, or cannabigerol, is a cannabinoid that has recently been studied for its effects in preventing progression of certain carcinomas.
A recent study published in Cells hypothesizes that CBG may have potential to inhibit the growth of GB. A comparison was done of CBG together with and versus CBD and THC on established differentiated GB tumor and stem cells by comparing fast growth/proliferation, invasiveness, and resistance to apoptosis.
Results showed that GB cell viability was reduced by all 3 cannabinoids. CBG and THC reduced the viability of both cells similarly, but CBD in combination with CBG showed better results than with THC. CBD and CBG induced caspase-dependent cell apoptosis both alone and in combination, and THC had no additive effect. CBG was shown to inhibit glioblastoma invasion similar to CBD and chemotherapeutic temozolomide.
THC was shown to minimally effect combined-cannabinoid GB treatment, suggesting THC be replaced with CBG in future clinical studies.
Reference:
Lah, Tamara T et al. “Cannabigerol Is a Potential Therapeutic Agent in a Novel Combined Therapy for Glioblastoma.” Cells vol. 10,2 340. 5 Feb. 2021, doi:10.3390/cells10020340
