What Does the National Cancer Institute Says About CBD for Breast Cancer?
What Does the National Cancer Institute Says About CBD for Breast Cancer?
For many years the United States government has been reluctant to admit the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids. The result is that, despite the significant findings on the healing properties of these compounds, there’s still a general stigma that leads to biased policies and social attitudes. Nonetheless, earlier this year, the National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, published on their website the acknowledgment that cannabinoids offer benefits when used as a treatment for patients with cancer-related symptoms caused either by the disease itself or by the various medical procedures.
As October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s see what the National Cancer Institute has to say about the therapeutic potential of CBD in breast cancer. CBD is a naturally occurring, non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can be found in the seeds, stalks, and flowers of cannabis plant varieties such as hemp.
The updated information on the National Cancer Institute website includes summaries of preclinical and clinical research studies on cannabinoids used in cases of cancer – one of these studies is meant for health professionals, and the other one targets patients. These pages are an overview of cannabinoids, including a brief history of their status in a relationship with legal authorities. This summary also includes an explanation of all studies and their findings of the effects of cannabinoids on all forms of cancer, breast cancer included.
According to the NCI, CBD MAY help breast cancer patients in two ways:
– CBD has proven anti-cancer properties
– CBD can provide the alleviation of the symptoms caused by aggressive cancer treatments
cannabidiolA phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis species, which is devoid of psychoactive activity, with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic and chemopreventive activities. Upon administration, cannabidiol (CBD) exerts its anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic activity through various mechanisms, which likely do not involve signaling by cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), CB2, or vanilloid receptor 1. CBD stimulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inhibits AKT/mTOR signaling, thereby activating autophagy and promoting apoptosis. In addition, CBD enhances the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which further enhances apoptosis. This agent also upregulates the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP1) and decreases the expression of inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID-1). This inhibits cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis. CBD may also activate the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 2 (TRPV2), which may increase the uptake of various cytotoxic agents in cancer cells. The analgesic effect of CBD is mediated through the binding of this agent to and activation of CB1. (NCI Thesaurus)
The Anti-Breast Cancer Properties Of CBD
The overview of cannabinoid research published by the NCI emphasizes the findings of studies claiming CBD has the potential to fight and inhibit the spreading of breast cancer cells.
These anti-cancer effects may be connected to the influence of CBDs on the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system. One of the studies brought the confirmation that CB1 and CB2 receptors are directly involved in the development of breast cancer. Nonetheless, according to an in vitro study, CBD was able to trigger programmed cell death, without any connection to the CB1, CB2, or vanilloid receptors.
In that study, CBD was able to affect breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, the natural process of programmed cell death. The higher the CBD dose, the higher its effects on the breast cancer cells. On the other hand, the CBD apparently did not affect healthy breast tissue.
The NCI outlines that a series of preclinical trials evidenced the anti-tumor effects of CBD in breast cancer. Moreover, CBD was able to enhance the healing effects of traditional anti-cancer medication, boosting their efficacy in inducing the apoptosis process in cancer cells.
The Benefits Of CBD In The Management Of Breast Cancer Treatment Symptoms
The NCI website also illustrates the findings are supporting the benefits regarding the management of the symptoms of various cancer treatments, chemotherapy included.
As stated on the NCI website, the potential health benefits of cannabinoids for cancer patients include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and better sleep.
According to these studies, CBD can reduce nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy and by other traditional cancer treatments. Some animal models have also shown that CBD can regulate moods and alleviate anxiety, without the psychoactive effects of delta-9-THC.
More research can be found on NCBI Government website Below:
Even though the Government own the patent to CBD and the NCBI has studies proving the legitimacy of CBD “The FDA has not evaluated these statements and we do not claim any cure of diseases from CBD”. Educate yourself and make an educated decision based on the governments own studies.