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 * New study reveals kill order for melanoma cells by cannabis extract

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NEW STUDY REVEALS KILL ORDER FOR MELANOMA CELLS BY CANNABIS EXTRACT

8 February 2024

A practising pharmacist and pharmacologist, CDU's Dr Nazim Nassar specialises in
cancer cell biology, pharmacology, drug delivery systems, and drug disposition
and dynamics.

A cannabis extract has shown positive results in slowing down melanoma cell
growth and increasing cell death rates, a new in-vitro study finds.

Researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and RMIT investigated
programmed cell death caused by a specific cannabis extract (cannabinoid
PHEC-66) from the cannabis sativa plant.

The study that was part of a PhD project by RMIT’s Dr Ava Bachari found that the
extract binds to receptor sites on particular melanoma cells, then controls the
growth of cells at two pivotal phases and increases the amount of damage to the
cells.

CDU pharmaceutical lecturer and co-author Dr Nazim Nassar said this damage
effectively manipulates the cell into killing itself.

“The damage to the melanoma cell prevents it from dividing into new cells, and
instead begins a programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis,” Dr Nassar
said.

“This is a growing area of important research because we need to understand
cannabis extracts as much as possible, especially their potential to function as
anticancer agents.

“If we know how they react to cancer cells, particularly in the cause of cell
death, we can refine treatment techniques to be more specific, responsive and
effective”. 

Dr Nassar said the next challenge was developing targeted delivery system
development to the melanoma cells to get it ready for pre-clinical trials. 

“Advanced delivery systems still need to be fully developed, underscoring the
importance of ongoing efforts to ensure the proper and effective use of these
agents at target sites,” he said.

Dr Nassar specialises in cancer cell biology, pharmacology, drug delivery
systems, and drug disposition and dynamics.

A practising pharmacist and pharmacologist, he has co-authored several papers on
applying cannabinoids in melanoma treatment, the therapeutic potential of
cannabinoids in prostate cancer and an overview of current melanoma treatment. 

He said that while the use of cannabis extracts to treat a variety of health
conditions is stigmatised, future research into its application could
revolutionise cancer treatment.  

“Clinical uses of cannabis extracts include treatment for anxiety,
cancer-related symptoms, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Intensive research into its
potential for killing melanoma cells is only the start as we investigate how
this knowledge can be applied to treating different types of cancers.”

Lead author and RMIT biotechnologist Professor Nitin Mantri emphasised the
necessity for a long-term follow-up to ensure the sustained effectiveness and
safety of the PHEC-66 extract in cancer treatment over extended periods. 

He stressed the importance of testing the safety profile of the extract before
its widespread adoption.

"The subsequent stage involves animal studies or pre-clinical trials to validate
and further explore the efficacy of cannabinoid PHEC-66 in treating melanoma and
other cancers,” Professor Mantri said.

He highlighted the critical collaboration with Dr Nassar, emphasising the need
for support and sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies to qualify PHEC-66 as
a registered medicine. 

This support is essential for advancing the development and application of
cannabis extracts in cancer treatment, leveraging Dr Nassar's expertise as a
healthcare professional, pharmacologist, and pharmaceutical scientist.

The paper was published in Cells journal.


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