Study Suggests CBD and THC May Help Slow Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth

Researchers have found that both CBD and THC show noteworthy anti-cancer
activity against ovarian cancer cells in laboratory experiments, suggesting
potential usefulness for future therapies, according to a recent
ScienceDaily report. The study, published in *Frontiers in Pharmacology*,
highlights how these naturally occurring cannabinoids may slow tumor growth
and contribute to cancer cell death.

In tests using two ovarian cancer cell lines, one sensitive to standard
platinum-based chemotherapy and one resistant, both CBD and THC reduced
cell growth and colony formation when applied individually. However, the
most pronounced effects were observed when the compounds were combined in a
roughly 1:1 ratio, slowing cancer cell reproduction and substantially
reducing cellular migration, a key factor in metastasis.

The researchers found that CBD and THC together may help modulate a key
internal system that cancer cells use to grow and survive: the
PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. This system is often stuck in overdrive in ovarian
cancer, allowing tumors to spread and resist treatment. By restoring that
system to normal activity, the cannabinoids appeared to slow cancer cell
growth and increase cancer cell death, according to the report.

Despite the promising lab results, the researchers note that these findings
are preliminary and derived from in vitro work. Before this research can
lead to any real-world treatments, further testing is needed with human
subjects. Regulatory and legal barriers surrounding cannabis research make
it difficult to establish official therapeutic options for doctors to
recommend, though non-pharmaceutical medical cannabis is widely available
in numerous U.S. states.