64 Studies That Show Cannabis Can Treat Various Cancers

Cannabis, and the cannabinoid compounds found within it, has been shown through a large amount of scientific, peer-reviewed research to be effective at treating a wide variety of cancers, ranging from brain cancer to colon cancer. Below is a list of over 60 studies that demonstrate the vast anti-cancer properties of cannabis.

Studies showing cannabis may combat brain cancer:

• Cannabidiol (CBD) inhibits the proliferation and invasion in U87-MG and T98G glioma cells. Study published in the Public Library of Science journal in October 2013.
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can kill cancer cells by causing them to self-digest. Study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in September 2013.

• CBD is a novel therapeutic target against glioblastoma. Study published in Cancer Research in March 2013.
• Local delivery of cannabinoid-filled microparticles inhibits tumor growth in a model of glioblastoma multiforme. Study published in Public Library of Science in January 2013.
• Cannabinoid action inhibits the growth of malignant human glioma U87MG cells. Study published in Oncology Reports in July 2012.
• Cannabidiol enhances the inhibitory effects of THC on human glioblastoma cell proliferation and survival. Study published in the Molecular Cancer Therapeutics journal in January 2010.
• Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death in human glioma cells. Study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation in May 2009.
• Cannabinoids inhibit glioma cell invasion by down-regulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression. Study published in Cancer Research in March 2008.
• Cannabinoids and gliomas. Study published in Molecular Neurobiology in June 2007.
• Cannabinoids inhibit gliomagenesis. Study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in March 2007.
• A pilot clinical study of THC in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. The results were published in the British Journal of Cancer in June 2006.
• Cannabidiol inhibits human glioma cell migration through an independent cannabinoid receptor mechanism. Study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in April 2005.
• Cannabinoids inhibit the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway (VEGF) in gliomas. Study published in the Journal of Cancer Research in August 2004.
• Antitumor effects of cannabidiol, a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, on human glioma cell lines. Study published in the Journal of Pharmacology in November 2003.
• Inhibition of glioma growth in vivo by selective activation of the CB₂ cannabinoid receptor. Study published in the Journal of Cancer Research in August 2001.

Studies showing cannabis may combat colorectal cancer:

• Cannabigerol (CBG) can inhibit colon cancer cells. Study published in the Oxford journal Carcinogenesis in October 2014.
• Inhibition of colon carcinogenesis by a standardised Cannabis Sativa extract with high content of CBD. Study published in Phytomedecine in December 2013.
• Chemopreventive effect of the non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid CBD on colon cancer. Study published in the Journal of Molecular Medecine in August 2012.
• Cannabinoids against intestinal inflammation and cancer. Study published in Pharmacology Research in August 2009.
• Action of cannabinoid receptors on colorectal tumor growth. Study published by the Cancer Center of the University of Texas in July 2008.

Studies showing cannabis may combat blood cancer:

• The effects of cannabidiol and its synergism with bortezomib in multiple myeloma cell lines. Study published in the International Journal of Cancer  in December 2013.
• Enhancing the activity of CBD and other cannabinoids against leukaemia. Study published in Anticancer Research in October 2013.
• Cannabis extract treatment for terminal acute lymphoblastic leukemia of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1). Study published in Case Reports in Oncology in September 2013.
• Expression of type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors in lymphoma. Study published in the International Journal of Cancer in June 2008.
• Cannabinoid action in mantle cell lymphoma. Study published in Molecular Pharmacology in November 2006.
• THC-induced apoptosis in Jurkat leukemia. Study published in Molecular Cancer Research in August 2006.
• Targeting CB2 cannabinoid receptors as a novel therapy to treat malignant lymphoblastic disease. Study published in Blood American Society of Hemmatology in July 2002.

Studies showing cannabis can combat lung cancer:

• Cannabinoids increase lung cancer cell lysis by lymphokine-activated killer cells via upregulation of Icam-1. Study published in Biochemical Pharmacology in July 2014.
• Cannabinoids inhibit angiogenic capacities of endothelial cells via release of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 from lung cancer cells. Study published in Biochemical Pharmacology in June 2014.
• COX-2 and PPAR-γ confer CBD-induced apoptosis of human lung cancer cells. Study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics in January 2013.
• CBD inhibits lung cancer cell invasion and metastasis via intercellular adhesion molecule-1. Study published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in April 2012.
• Cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, as novel targets for inhibition of non–small cell lung cancer growth and metastasis. Study published in Cancer Prevention Research in January 2011.
• THC inhibits epithelial growth factor-induced (EGF) lung cancer cell migration in vitro as well as its growth and metastasis in vivo. Study published in the journal Oncogene in July 2007.

Studies showing cannabis may combat stomach cancer:

• Cannabinoid receptor agonist as an alternative drug in 5-Fluorouracil-resistant gastric cancer cells. Study published in Anticancer Research in June 2013.
• Antiproliferative mechanism of a cannabinoid agonist by cell cycle arrest in human gastric cancer cells. Study published in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry in March 2011.

Studies showing cannabis may combat prostrate cancer:

• Cannabinoids may provide a treatment option for prostate cancer that has become nonresponsive to common therapy, according to a study published in the February issue of the journal Oncology Reports, and published online by the National Institute of Health.
• Cannabinoids can treat prostate cancer. Study published by the National Institute of Health in October 2013.
• Non-THC cannabinoids inhibit prostate carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo: pro-apoptotic effects and underlying mechanisms. Study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in December 2012.
• The role of cannabinoids in prostate cancer: Basic science perspective and potential clinical applications. Study published in the Indian Journal of Urology in January 2012.
• Induction of apoptosis by cannabinoids in prostate and colon cancer cells is phosphatase dependent. Study published in Anticancer Research in November 2011.

Studies showing cannabis may combat liver cancer:

• Involvement of PPARγ in the antitumoral action of cannabinoids on hepatocellular carcinoma (CHC). Study published in Cell Death and Disease in May 2013.
• Evaluation of anti-invasion effect of cannabinoids on human hepatocarcinoma cells. Study published on the site Informa Healthcare in February 2013.
• Antitumoral action of cannabinoids on hepatocellular carcinoma. Study published in Cell Death and Differentiation in April 2011.

Studies showing cannabis may combat pancreatic cancer:

• Cannabinoids inhibit energetic metabolism and induce autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. Study published in Cell Death and Disease in June 2013.
• Cannabinoids Induce apoptosis of pancreatic tumor cells. Study published in Cancer Research in July 2006.

Studies showing cannabis may combat skin cancer:

• Cannabinoid receptor activiation can combat skin cancer. Study published by the National Institute of Health in October 2013.
• Cannabinoids were found to reduce skin cancer by 90% in just 2 weeks. Study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology in July 2013.
• Cannabinoid receptors as novel targets for the treatment of melanoma. Study published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in December 2006.
• Inhibition of skin tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo by activation of cannabinoid receptors. Study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, in January 2003.

Studies showing cannabis may combat other types of cancer:

• A study published in the February, 2015 edition of the journal Molecular Oncology, and published online by the National Institute of Health, found that the cannabis compound cannabidiol inhibits the growth and metastasis of highly aggressive breast cancer.
• Cannabis use is associated with reduced incidences of bladder cancer, according to a study published in the February, 2015 issue of the journal Urology.
• Bladder: Marijuana reduces the risk of bladder cancer. Study published in the Medscape site in May 2013.
• Kaposi sarcoma: Cannabidiol inhibits growth and induces programmed cell death in Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus-infected endothelium. Study published in the journal Genes & Cancer in July 2012.
• Nose, mouth, throat, ear: Cannabinoids like THC inhibit cellular respiration of human oral cancer cells. Study by the Department of Pediatrics at the State University of New York, published in June 2010.
• Bile duct: The dual effects of THC on cholangiocarcinoma cells: anti-invasion activity at low concentration and apoptosis induction at high concentration. Study published in Cancer Investigation in May 2010.
• Ovaries: Cannabinoid receptors as a target for therapy of ovarian cancer. Study published on the American Association for Cancer Research website in 2006.
• Preparation and characterisation of biodegradable microparticles filled with THC and their antitumor efficacy on cancer cell lines. Study published in the Journal of Drug Targeting in September 2013.
• CBD Cannabidiol as a potential anticancer drug. Study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in February 2013.
• Cannabinoids as anticancer modulators. Study published in the Progress in Lipid Research journal in January 2013.
• CBD inhibits angiogenesis by multiple mechanisms. Study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in November 2012.
• Towards the use of cannabinoids as antitumour agents. Study published in Nature in June 2012.
• Cannabinoid-associated cell death mechanisms in tumor models. Study published in the International Journal of Oncology in May 2012.
• Cannabinoids, endocannabinoids and cancer. Study published in Cancer Metastasis Reviews in December 2011.
• The endocannabinoid system and cancer: therapeutic implication. Study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in July 2011.

[Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on October 7th, 2014, but was updated on August 16th, 2015.]

– TheJointBlog