Abstract
Marijuana has been used in medicine for millennia, but it was not until 1964 that Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), its major psychoactive component, was isolated in pure form and its structure was elucidated. Shortly thereafter it was synthesized and became readily available. However, it took another decade until the first report on its antineoplastic activity appeared. In 1975, Munson discovered that cannabinoids suppress Lewis lung carcinoma cell growth. The mechanism of this action was shown to be inhibition of DNA synthesis. Antiproliferative action on some other cancer cells was also found. In spite of the promising results from these early studies, further investigations in this area were not reported until a few years ago, when almost simultaneously two groups initiated research on the antiproliferative effects of cannabinoids on cancer cells: Di Marzos group found that cannabinoids inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, and Guzmans group found that cannabinoids inhibit the growth of C6 glioma cell. Other groups also started work in this field, and today, a wide array of cancer cell lines that are affected is known, and some mechanisms involved have been elucidated.
Keywords: cannabinoid, endocannabinoid, mechanisms, cancer, angiogenesis
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Cannabinoids and Cancer
Volume: 5 Issue: 10
Author(s): Natalya M. Kogan
Affiliation:
Keywords: cannabinoid, endocannabinoid, mechanisms, cancer, angiogenesis
Abstract: Marijuana has been used in medicine for millennia, but it was not until 1964 that Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), its major psychoactive component, was isolated in pure form and its structure was elucidated. Shortly thereafter it was synthesized and became readily available. However, it took another decade until the first report on its antineoplastic activity appeared. In 1975, Munson discovered that cannabinoids suppress Lewis lung carcinoma cell growth. The mechanism of this action was shown to be inhibition of DNA synthesis. Antiproliferative action on some other cancer cells was also found. In spite of the promising results from these early studies, further investigations in this area were not reported until a few years ago, when almost simultaneously two groups initiated research on the antiproliferative effects of cannabinoids on cancer cells: Di Marzos group found that cannabinoids inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, and Guzmans group found that cannabinoids inhibit the growth of C6 glioma cell. Other groups also started work in this field, and today, a wide array of cancer cell lines that are affected is known, and some mechanisms involved have been elucidated.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Kogan M. Natalya, Cannabinoids and Cancer, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2005; 5 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955705774329555
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955705774329555 |
Print ISSN 1389-5575 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5607 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Bioprospecting of Natural Products as Sources of New Multitarget Therapies
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, bioprospecting is the exploration of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge to develop commercially valuable products for pharmaceutical and other applications. Bioprospecting involves searching for useful organic compounds in plants, fungi, marine organisms, and microorganisms. Natural products traditionally constituted the primary source of more than ...read more
Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry
The thematic issue "Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry" provides a robust platform for delving into state-of-the-art computational methodologies and technologies that significantly propel advancements in medicinal chemistry. This edition seeks to amalgamate top-tier reviews spotlighting the latest trends and breakthroughs in the fusion of computational approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) ...read more
Natural Products and Dietary Supplements in Alleviation of Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Disorders
Metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer etc, cardiovascular disorders like angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure etc as well as neurological disorders like Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, Epilepsy, Depression, etc are the global burden. They covered the major segment of the diseases and disorders from which the human community ...read more
Natural Products in Drug Discovery
Natural products have always been one of the important ways of drug discovery due to their novel skeleton and diverse functional group characteristics. According to statistics, between 1981 and 2019, the FDA approved a total of 1,394 small molecule drugs for marketing, of which 930 marketed drugs originated from the ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
DNA Methylation as a Target of Epigenetic Therapeutics in Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Ligands Targeting the Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters (EAATs)
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Molecular Probes for Malignant Melanoma Imaging
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Impact of MCP -1 in Atherosclerosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Structural and Mechanistic Bases of the Anticancer Activity of Natural Aporphinoid Alkaloids
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Smart Biodecorated Hybrid Nanoparticles
Current Bionanotechnology (Discontinued) Editorial (Thematic Issue: In vivo MRS: Techniques and Applications)
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) Impaired Expression and Function of Cancer-Related Enzymes by Anthocyans: An Update
Current Enzyme Inhibition MYC as Therapeutic Target for Embryonal Tumors: Potential and Challenges
Current Cancer Drug Targets To Be-et, or Not to Be-et, That is the Question: The Role(s) of Nitrate and Nitrite in Health and Illness
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Neuroprotection & Mechanism of Ethanol in Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury Therapy: New Prospects for an Ancient Drug
Current Drug Targets mTOR Inhibitors in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Current Neuropharmacology Overcoming the Drug Resistance Problem with Second-Generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: From Enzymology to Structural Models
Current Medicinal Chemistry Biotin-Encoded and Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-Loaded Polymeric Nano Micelles: Preparation, Optimization and In Vitro Characterization
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Glioblastoma Tumor Initiating Cells: Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Apoptosis and MicroRNA Pathways
Current Molecular Medicine Xanthones from Mangosteen Extracts as Natural Chemopreventive Agents: Potential Anticancer Drugs
Current Molecular Medicine Clinical Pharmacology of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: A Review
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Central Nervous System Diseases
Current Drug Targets Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable and Borderline Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas
Current Drug Targets Anti-EGFR-mAb and 5-Fluorouracil Conjugated Polymeric Nanoparticles for Colorectal Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery