Mahasarakham, Thailand: Patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (biliary tract cancer) who integrate cannabis into their palliative medical treatment experience prolonged survival compared to those who do not, according to the findings of a retrospective cohort study published in the scientific journal F1000 Research.
Thai investigators compared survival trends among 491 patients diagnosed with advanced CCA (cholangiocarcinoma). Of these, 404 patients received palliative care only. Eight-seven patients integrated the use of medicinal cannabis products into their treatment plan. (Medical cannabis products are regulated in Thailand and they are available by prescription for the treatment of specific conditions.) Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups.
For those receiving standard care only, the median survival time after registration at a palliative clinic was 0.83 months. For those receiving cannabis, median survival time was 5.66 months.
“Medical cannabis increased overall survival rates among CCA patients,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings support the integration of medicinal cannabis into palliative care.”
Preclinical studies have consistently determined that cannabinoids possess anti-cancer activities, including the ability to induce apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells. A prior observational study concluded that CCA patients who consumed cannabis experienced lower rates of in-patient mortality compared to similarly matched controls.
Full text of the study, “Survival rates of patients with combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma receiving medical cannabis treatment: A retrospective, cohort comparative study,” appears in F1000 Research. Additional information on cannabinoids and cancer is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.