Cannabis phytochemicals found to be effective in destroying leukemia cells

Researchers from St. George’s, University of London have confirmed that cannabinoids are effective in destroying the cells of leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming organs. When used in conjunction with chemotherapy treatments, cannabinoids, the active chemicals in cannabis, results against the blood cancer cells improved significantly. The new findings, which have been published in the International Journal of Oncology, suggest that lower doses of chemotherapy can be administered to patients.

The researchers set out to test the efficacy of existing chemotherapy treatments alongside cannabinoids, and to determine whether the order of the drugs had any impact on potency. Different types of cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), were then paired up and used in combination the chemotherapy drugs vincristine and cytarabine. Based on their results, the researchers determined that using cannabinoids after chemotherapy improved the chances of cancer apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The outcome was less favorable when the order was reversed and the cannabinoids were given prior to chemotherapy.