Bristol, United Kingdom: Administration of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide inhibits the growth of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells, according to clinical trial data published in the August issue of the journal Gut.
Researchers at the University of Bristol School of Medicine reported that the administration of anandamide inhibited the proliferation of CRC cell lines and selectively induced cell death. “These findings suggest [that] anandamide may be a useful chemopreventive/therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer … and may also be useful in the eradication of tumor cells,” authors concluded.
Previous trials have found cannabinoids to selectively induce tumor regression in rodents and in human cells, including the inhibition of lung carcinoma, glioma (brain tumors), lymphoma/leukemia, skin carcinoma, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, “The endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, induces cell death in colorectal carcinoma cells,” appears in the August issue of the journal Gut.