In the early stages, prostate cancer is dependent upon stimulation of the male sex hormone receptor, and interfering with that receptor can have positive effects for the patient. However as the disease progresses that can change, and different pathways are needed to address the illness. Recently it has been shown that cannabinoids (components of cannabis or marijuana) can have an effect on various cancers, including pancreatic. The natural cannabinoids that the body makes internally are called endocannabinoids.
In this study the authors verified that pancreatic cancer cells have cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2) which can be stimulated, and that stimulation of these receptors by synthetic imitations of endocannabinoids inhibited the growth of pancreatic cells in the laboratory setting.
Based on their findings, they state that endocannabinoids may become a beneficial treatment option for prostate cancer which has stopped responding to other therapies.
