Study Finds CBD Enhances Effectiveness of FGFR Inhibitors in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, and was conducted by researchers at Korea University College of Medicine. The researchers tested the effects of CBD and the FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 on colorectal cancer cells, focusing on the NCI-H716 line, which shows high FGFR2 expression. On their own, both CBD and the inhibitor reduced cancer cell viability. However, when combined, they produced a marked increase in cell death, indicating a synergistic effect.

Further analysis revealed that the enhanced impact was tied to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, a cellular pathway known to regulate apoptosis. RNA sequencing and gene silencing experiments confirmed ER stress as a key mechanism behind the combination therapy’s success.

The findings support the potential of CBD as a valuable partner in targeted cancer therapies. By boosting the efficacy of FGFR inhibitors, CBD could help overcome resistance and improve outcomes for colorectal cancer patients, a group that urgently needs new treatment strategies.