Therapeutic Cannabis and Treatment of Brain Tumors

03/09/2021 5 min read

GW Pharmaceuticals studies the efficacy of cannabis in fatal brain tumors

GW Pharmaceuticals is actively engaged in research into cannabis as a medicine for cancers of the lung, breast, pancreas, melanoma, ovaries, stomach, kidneys, prostate and bladder
It is also reporting success in recently conducted studies on cannabis and its help with brain tumours

GW Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company from the United Kingdom responsible for developing a very promising anti-epilepsy preparation, Epidiolex, is reporting success from the second phase of clinical trials on the treatment of aggressive forms of brain tumours with Glioma, a cannabis-based therapy.

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

"These results are, at the very least, very interesting. THC:CBD-based medicines are pharmaceutically very different from all the drugs commonly used in oncology today. In the future, cannabis-based medicines could offer us unique therapeutic solutions and also work in synergy with existing treatments," explains the study's chief investigator and professor at the cancer research institute at St James's hospital in Leeds , Susan Short.

Patients taking Glioma survive

Of the study participants who were given Glioma, a full 83% survived at the one-year mark, compared with only 52% of those who received a placebo. The average survival time was then 550 days for those who received the cannabis drug and 369 days for those who were given a placebo.

Researchers also report fairly promising results as regards the side effects of Glioma - only a small percentage of patients experienced problems such as nausea, dizziness or constipation.

GBM is one of the most common forms of brain tumour, but it is also the absolute deadliest. The prognosis for patients diagnosed with this tumour is very grim - 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 as follows: "It is extremely important that we focus on cannabis-based medicines with exceptional attention. The results of recent tests only further confirm the validity and value of cannabis in the field of tumour and cancer treatment."

"These data continue to stimulate more and more research, on which GW Pharmaceuticals will focus. In the coming months, we will consult external experts and regulatory agencies on the next key phases of clinical research and also on expanding research to focus on other dangerous forms of cancer."

GW Pharmaceuticals' medical campaign

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

GWP. has been engaged in research into cannabis as a cancer medicine since 2007. Since then, it has conducted a whole range of studies on the treatment of cancers of the lung, breast, pancreas, melanoma, ovaries, stomach, kidneys, prostate and bladder.

Apart from cancer research, GW is also engaged in research into the use of cannabis for treating diabetes, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

The company's research has already sprouted into a large number of patents that will play a major role in the overall worldwide progress of cannabis as an important medicine.

Author: Gage Peake

Translation: Filip Maral

Sources: leafly.com

Images: mages.medicaldaily