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Article

Anticancer Mechanisms of Cannabinoids

1
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Madrid, Spain
2
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Madrid, Spain
3
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
4
Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
5
Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Curr. Oncol. 2016, 23(s1), 23-32; https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3080
Submission received: 8 December 2015 / Revised: 6 January 2016 / Accepted: 9 February 2016 / Published: 1 March 2016

Abstract

In addition to the well-known palliative effects of cannabinoids on some cancer-associated symptoms, a large body of evidence shows that these molecules can decrease tumour growth in animal models of cancer. They do so by modulating key cell signalling pathways involved in the control of cancer cell proliferation and survival. In addition, cannabinoids inhibit angiogenesis and decrease metastasis in various tumour types in laboratory animals. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of cannabinoids as antitumour agents, focusing on recent discoveries about their molecular mechanisms of action, including resistance mechanisms and opportunities for their use in combination therapy. Those observations have already contributed to the foundation for the development of the first clinical studies that will analyze the safety and potential clinical benefit of cannabinoids as anticancer agents.
Keywords: cannabinoids; apoptosis; autophagy; cell proliferation; angiogenesis; cell signalling; combination therapy cannabinoids; apoptosis; autophagy; cell proliferation; angiogenesis; cell signalling; combination therapy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Velasco, G.; Sánchez, C.; Guzmán, M. Anticancer Mechanisms of Cannabinoids. Curr. Oncol. 2016, 23, 23-32. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3080

AMA Style

Velasco G, Sánchez C, Guzmán M. Anticancer Mechanisms of Cannabinoids. Current Oncology. 2016; 23(s1):23-32. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3080

Chicago/Turabian Style

Velasco, G., C. Sánchez, and M. Guzmán. 2016. "Anticancer Mechanisms of Cannabinoids" Current Oncology 23, no. s1: 23-32. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3080

APA Style

Velasco, G., Sánchez, C., & Guzmán, M. (2016). Anticancer Mechanisms of Cannabinoids. Current Oncology, 23(s1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3080

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