Study: CBD Shows Broad Anti-Tumor Effects, But Human Trials Still Needed

A new systematic review published in the journal Phytomedicine says cannabidiol (CBD) shows wide-ranging anti-tumor activity in preclinical research, while stressing that most evidence so far remains limited to lab and animal studies. The review, led by researchers from Harbin Medical University, “integrated recent high-quality research to assess CBD’s effects across various cancer types”, states the study’s abstract. “The analysis encompassed its mechanisms in tumor cell biology and the tumor microenvironment (TME), a comparison of monotherapy versus combination therapy efficacy, its role in managing cancer-related symptoms, and its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties.” Advances in nano-based drug delivery systems were also reviewed.

“CBD demonstrates multi-target anti-tumor effects, including inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, suppressing metastasis, and remodeling the TME via immunomodulation”, claim researchers. “It exhibits broad-spectrum efficacy in vitro and in vivo, shows synergistic effects in combination therapy, and can alleviate cancer-related symptoms.”

Safety data indicated “a favorable tolerability profile.”

Researchers concluded the review by saying:

CBD holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent. This review provides a theoretical foundation for its rational development. Future work should focus on validating these findings in clinical trials, optimizing targeted drug delivery systems, and establishing standardized treatment protocols.