Antitumorigenic Effect of Cannabidiol in Lung Cancer: What Do We Know So Far?–A Mini Review

Lung cancer remains a major factor contributing to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Apart from the chemotherapeutic agents in routine use, factors targeting novel molecular pathways are in clinical trials and provide hope for terminal lung cancer patients. The endocannabinoid system has recently become a popular field of study. Many experimental studies have shown that CBD and THC could be useful as a specific treatment for lung cancer since they play a major role in lung cancer cell apoptosis. The objective of this review was to evaluate the antitumorigenic mechanisms of CBD in lung cancer cells.

We searched the databases MEDLINE, clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar using specific terms. A total of 246 studies were screened, and nine studies were included in the review. All the selected studies were conducted in vitro, and four of which also had an in vivo component. Included studies were assessed in our review using the ToxRTool.

The most common cell line used in all of the studies was A549; however, some studies contained other cell lines, including H460 and H358. We concluded that CBD has direct antineoplastic effects on lung cancer cells through various mechanisms mediated by cannabinoid receptors or independent of these receptors. All studies were referred to an in vitro model; hence, further research in animals is required, and if results remain promising, human clinical trials are ncessary.