Study: CBD and THC May Help Inhibit Glioblastoma Progression
- The study published in the Journal of Applied Genetics found that cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, may inhibit the progression of glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer.
- Researchers tested cannabinoids alone and combined with temozolomide (TMZ), the standard chemotherapy for glioblastoma, observing improved inhibition of tumor growth.
- Cannabinoids were shown to induce DNA hypermethylation, likely through direct interactions with DNA and DNA methyltransferase, with THC's planar structure enabling DNA intercalation.
- The findings suggest cannabinoids combined with TMZ could enhance glioblastoma treatment and that measuring DNA methylation and oxidative stress markers is a useful method to evaluate anticancer drug effects.
A new study published in Journal of Applied Genetics found that cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may help inhibit the progression of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer with limited treatment options.
Researchers from Poznan University of Medical Sciences and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences examined the effects of CBD, THC and a cannabis extract referred to as CFE, both alone and in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), the current standard chemotherapy drug used for glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma is the most malignant type of glioma and has a median survival time of about 12 to 15 months after diagnosis. The study notes that tumor development is tied in part to changes in cellular redox balance and the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, which can affect DNA methylation and oxidative stress markers.
Using nucleotide post-labeling and thin-layer chromatographic analysis, researchers measured changes in global DNA methylation marker m5C and oxidative stress marker 8-oxo-dG. They found that cannabinoids alone, as well as cannabinoids combined with TMZ, inhibited glioblastoma progression in the models studied.
The authors said CBD and THC induced hypermethylation and proposed a mechanism involving direct interaction between cannabinoids, DNA and DNA methyltransferase. They also noted that THC’s planar structure may allow it to intercalate into DNA.
The study concludes by stating:
This paper shows that CBD and THC induce hypermethylation and proposes a novel mechanism of action for cannabinoids in glioblastoma. It is based on the specific interaction of cannabinoids with DNA and DNAmethyltransferase. Cannabinoids, as phenolic compounds, can interact with two key arginine moieties, 836 and 882, stabilizing the DNA methylation complex (Zang et al. 2018; Hosseini et al. 2025). Furthermore, due to its planar structure, THC has the potential to intercalate into the DNA. Cannabinoids, in combination with TMZ, can also be used to improve the treatment of glioblastoma. It has also been demonstrated that a global assessment of DNA methylation can be a reliable method for evaluating the anticancer properties of various drugs. Parallel measurements of both molecular markers (m5C and 8-oxo-dG) provide a valuable source for different drug actions.