Study: Cannabinoids Can Inhibit Growth of Carcinoma Cancer Cells, Program them to Die
A new study published by the U.S. National Institute of Health has found that cannabinoids can inhibit the growth of carcinoma cancer cells, and can essentially program currently active cancer cells to die.
For the study, researchers at Guangzhou Medical University in China examined the effects of a synthetic cannabinoid (WIN55, 212-2) on “the proliferation, invasion and migration of SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its underlying mechanisms”. Carcinoma is a type of cancer that develops from epithelial cells.
The researchers found that the synthetic cannabinoid (designed to mimic the effects of cannabis-based cannabinoids) can “inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and induce cell apoptosis.” Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death.
The study notes that cannabinoids “can inhibit the invasion and migration of SMMC-7721 cells through down-regulating the protein expression of MMP-14 [a human enzyme].”
The full study can be found by clicking here.