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Glioblastoma, or GBM, is one of the most common primary brain tumours in adults. This type of cancer is infamous for being very aggressive and quite difficult to treat, as it forms directly inside the brain instead of spreading from another part of the body. Effective treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can slow the spread of the tumour, but can’t fully rid a patient of its presence.
Even in the context of contemporary medical knowledge, survival rates for this disease have been the same for decades. Today, only around 25% of diagnosed patients survive the first year, and only 5% survive for more than five years.
Thankfully, emerging research into the benefits of CBD and Glioblastoma have prompted researchers to explore its usage as a complementary treatment to GBM. This article will be a summary of what we’ve found – from the team at AltMed to you.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis that does not produce the euphoric effects that THC has. It does, however, have many associated benefits.
Ongoing research into CBD suggests that it can help with mood, pain, inflammation, and sleep without the side effects of THC. More interestingly, studies have also shown that CBD can also help with neurological conditions, such as lowering convulsions in treatment-resistant epilepsy.
In 2023, one study exploring new treatments for GBM used mouse models to see if CBD could affect tumour growth.
Researchers used various techniques to provide as much realism to the model as possible, given the complexity of GBM and its microenvironment.
The tumour then took only eight days to establish itself in the mice’s brains. After this, some mice were given inhaled CBD, while some were only given a placebo. The study then found that CBD helped slow down tumour growth by altering its microenvironment– reducing certain molecules needed to help the tumour progress.
The researchers also found that CBD simultaneously improved the immune system’s response to the tumours by increasing the markers for immune cell activity, helping the body fight it off more effectively.
While this study was conducted on mice – and further research is needed before it can be applied to human trials – the results are already promising.
Aside from its inhibitory effects, CBD can also improve quality of life, particularly through relieving chemotherapy-induced nausea and helping with types of seizures.
These two symptoms are usually the first signs that an individual may have GBM, and may continue to worsen as the disease progresses. Here’s how CBD can help:
Patients undergoing chemotherapy may experience some form of nausea, vomiting, or both. Based on some observations, some patients may even experience depression, anxiety, and mood swings while undergoing the treatment.
It is exactly the reason why some studies have started to use cannabinoids, as these compounds can exhibit antiemetic effects, treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Interestingly, certain cannabinoids such as THC have been proven to be more effective than conventional medications used to treat moderate nausea, and one drug (dronabinol) was even given FDA-approved status in 1986 for this reason.
Seizures are another common symptom associated with GBM, affecting a significant number of patients diagnosed with this aggressive form of brain cancer.
Thankfully, a growing body of evidence suggests that CBD may help enhance the quality of life of patients by improving seizure control without notable side effects.
However, while CBD can be used with certain anti-epileptic drugs to treat seizures, it can directly affect the medication’s efficacy by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 enzyme system (CYP450).
A great example would be phenobarbital and phenytoin; CBD increases the anticonvulsant effect of both drugs while simultaneously intensifying its toxicity.
Therefore, it is important to consult with your doctor first to safely evaluate the risk-benefit ratio of using CBD to treat this symptom. We recommend checking out our article for more CBD interactions with common medications.
Although research regarding CBD and its interactions with glioblastoma is still ongoing, we are already excited about the implications it may have when used as a complementary treatment option.
Cumbersome side effects from treatment such as nausea and seizures are reduced into a much more manageable state, making the treatment process a little easier for patients.
If you would love to stay on top of CBD-related news while we wait for the findings to present itself, subscribe to AltMed’s Podcasts and tune in to our discussions!
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