Instead of cannabis in cancer too little studied
Clinical trials relating to the place of cannabis in supportive care in oncology are still too few, not to establish with certainty the effect of this substance on patients with cancer, sorry Association study and research of internal oncology (AERIO).
Positive therapeutic effects?
During a press conference on the sidelines of Eurocancer in Paris, Dr. Jean-Philippe Spano, an oncologist at the Pitié-Salpêtrière (Paris), briefly presented the problems related to cannabis in oncology.
"Two problems: cannabis is there a risk factor for cancer ?, including lung cancer, or conversely an antitumor agent Moreover, while tobacco consumption seems to decrease, that cannabis increases at the same time without that we are aware of their effects on the carcinogenic short terms, medium and long term. "
According to him, the question of a possible role of cannabis must be addressed by taking multiple precautions. For one thing, the actual consumption is not necessarily admitted, and on the other hand, cannabis is never used alone, but always mixed with potentially carcinogenic substances.
If histological alterations in the bronchial epithelium were attributed to cannabis, the work performed in vitro helped to highlight the antiproliferative activity of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis.
In addition, symptomatic indications of cannabinoids are now well known: inhibition of nausea and vomiting (indication for which the molecules are currently under development clinqiue), appetite stimulation, analgesia équivalennt to codeine derivatives, sedation, Action anxiolytic and antidepressant.
So risk factor or antitumor agent? Now remains to develop clinical trials to validate the value of cannabinoids in supportive care in oncology. A clinical study is currently underway, particularly in the management of glioblastoma, to shed light on this point.
In Spain, 13% of patients using cannabis after medical advice
In addition, a survey conducted in Spain to 2200 patients allowed to sketch the profile of consumers and to estimate the expected benefits and side effects related to the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
Only 6% of patients admitted to using cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Nearly half suffered from cancer, other diseases are also spread ( AIDS , multiple sclerosis ...), each representing less than 10% of patients. The typical consumer is actually consuming, aged 45 on average, using cannabis on a short period (3 months to 1 year), mainly smoked (69%), but also ingested (23%) or infused (16%) .
In the majority of cases (63%), it is on its own initiative, but 13% on the recommendation of their doctor. The main benefits derived are the hypnotic effect (56%), improvement of nausea (47%), pain (46%), appetite (46%). The side effects most frequently reported were dry mouth (44%), changes in emotional state, memory difficulties and eye irritation (22%).
"Further clinical studies are clearly needed to validate all of the data, either in terms of symptomatic use or referred antitumor while doctors should be aware of the effects sought by cannabis and the risk involved, "concludes the AERIO.
Positive therapeutic effects?
During a press conference on the sidelines of Eurocancer in Paris, Dr. Jean-Philippe Spano, an oncologist at the Pitié-Salpêtrière (Paris), briefly presented the problems related to cannabis in oncology.
"Two problems: cannabis is there a risk factor for cancer ?, including lung cancer, or conversely an antitumor agent Moreover, while tobacco consumption seems to decrease, that cannabis increases at the same time without that we are aware of their effects on the carcinogenic short terms, medium and long term. "
According to him, the question of a possible role of cannabis must be addressed by taking multiple precautions. For one thing, the actual consumption is not necessarily admitted, and on the other hand, cannabis is never used alone, but always mixed with potentially carcinogenic substances.
If histological alterations in the bronchial epithelium were attributed to cannabis, the work performed in vitro helped to highlight the antiproliferative activity of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis.
In addition, symptomatic indications of cannabinoids are now well known: inhibition of nausea and vomiting (indication for which the molecules are currently under development clinqiue), appetite stimulation, analgesia équivalennt to codeine derivatives, sedation, Action anxiolytic and antidepressant.
So risk factor or antitumor agent? Now remains to develop clinical trials to validate the value of cannabinoids in supportive care in oncology. A clinical study is currently underway, particularly in the management of glioblastoma, to shed light on this point.
In Spain, 13% of patients using cannabis after medical advice
In addition, a survey conducted in Spain to 2200 patients allowed to sketch the profile of consumers and to estimate the expected benefits and side effects related to the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
Only 6% of patients admitted to using cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Nearly half suffered from cancer, other diseases are also spread ( AIDS , multiple sclerosis ...), each representing less than 10% of patients. The typical consumer is actually consuming, aged 45 on average, using cannabis on a short period (3 months to 1 year), mainly smoked (69%), but also ingested (23%) or infused (16%) .
In the majority of cases (63%), it is on its own initiative, but 13% on the recommendation of their doctor. The main benefits derived are the hypnotic effect (56%), improvement of nausea (47%), pain (46%), appetite (46%). The side effects most frequently reported were dry mouth (44%), changes in emotional state, memory difficulties and eye irritation (22%).
"Further clinical studies are clearly needed to validate all of the data, either in terms of symptomatic use or referred antitumor while doctors should be aware of the effects sought by cannabis and the risk involved, "concludes the AERIO.
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