Medical Cannabis and Brain Tumor Treatment

  • GW Pharmaceuticals is actively investigating cannabis as a treatment for lung, breast, pancreatic, melanoma, ovarian, stomach, kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer
  • Reporting successes in recent studies focused on cannabis and its help with brain tumors

GW Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company from Great Britain responsible for developing the very promising anti-epilepsy drug Epidiolex, reports success from the second phase of clinical studies investigating the treatment of aggressive brain tumor forms using Glioma - a cannabis-based therapy.

The study specifically examined 21 cases of patients suffering from a brain tumor type called "recurrent glioblastoma multiform" (GBM). The result was as follows: "Patients administered a drug based on a combination of THC and CBD survived significantly longer than those given a placebo."

"These results are at least very interesting. THC-based medications:CBD are pharmaceutically very different from all drugs currently used in oncology. In the future, cannabis-based medications could offer unique therapeutic solutions and also work in synergy with existing treatment," explains the lead study investigator and professor at the cancer research institute at St. James Hospital in Leeds, Susan Short.

Patients using Glioma survive

Study participants given Glioma survived at a rate of 83% over one year, compared to just 52% of those who received placebo. The average survival time was 550 days for those who received the cannabis drug and 369 days for those who received placebo.

Researchers report quite promising results regarding Glioma's side effects - only a small percentage of patients experienced issues like nausea, dizziness, or constipation.

GBM is one of the most common forms of brain tumors, but it is also simultaneously the most deadly. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with this tumor is very poor - only 28.4% survive more than a year after diagnosis, while an absolute minimum (3.4%) live 5 years from diagnosis.

Brain cancer treatment with cannabis

Project leader Justin Gover commented on the issue: "It is extremely important that we focus on cannabis-based medications with extraordinary attention. The results of recent tests further confirm the validity and value of cannabis in cancer treatment."

"This data continues to stimulate further research, which GW Pharmaceuticals will focus on. In the coming months, we will consult with external experts and regulatory agencies about key further stages of clinical research and expanding research targeting other dangerous cancer forms."

GW Pharmaceuticals' Treatment Campaign

GW Pharmaceuticals is known especially for its successes with the Epidiolex preparation and its use against epileptic seizures, particularly in children suffering from resistant epilepsy forms.

GWP has been researching cannabis as a cancer treatment since 2007. Since then, it has conducted numerous studies investigating treatments for lung, breast, pancreatic, melanoma, ovarian, stomach, kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer.

Besides cancer research, GW also investigates using cannabis to treat diabetes, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis.

The company's research has already resulted in a large number of patents that will play a significant role in the global progression of cannabis as an important medication.

Author: Gage Peake

Translation: Filip Maral

Sources: leafly.com

Images: mages.medicaldaily .swstatic.com

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