In experimental models, CBD can reduce the size of glioblastoma and support the environment

Augusta, Georgia
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(December 23, 2021) Researchers report that in animal models, inhalation of CBD reduces the size of the highly aggressive and fatal brain tumor glioblastoma by reducing the basic support of its microenvironment

Dr.
Babak Baban, an immunologist and associate dean of research at the Georgia School of Dentistry at Augusta University, said after 7 days of treatment: "We have seen a significant reduction in the size of the tumor, and its microenvironment is also different
.

"

Researchers at DCG and the Georgia Medical School say that the inhaler method not only helps ensure that the compounds found in marijuana reach the brain, but that this delivery method may be like an asthma inhaler and eventually be easily used by patients
.

They reported in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research that this is the first study using CBD in an animal model of glioblastoma
.

Using modified human glioblastoma cells, they created a so-called orthotopic glioblastoma model, which provides the most realistic model for this most common and deadly malignant brain tumor
.

By day 8, a malignant tumor in the brain of the mice had formed.

Although the method is likely to be easily applicable to humans, in this section, they mainly look at the biological response of the tumor to CBD.
Dr.
Martin said that funding, the expertise of MCG neurosurgeons includes that these patients often have seizures or sudden loss of consciousness after the operation.
Or slower neurological deficits, such as weak arms, vision or cognitive problems
.

"This may be one of the most aggressive periods of cancer
.

"We urgently need research and more treatments," said the neurosurgeon and co-author of the study

Rutkowski said: “The patient’s family will bring the patient in, saying that they are just thinking abnormally, their memories are everywhere, or they are fired because they no longer do what they have done for 30 years.
The right thing
.

"

Current treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
.

"Surgery cannot be cured, but it does provide an important first step in maximizing quality of life and prognosis," Rutkowski said, noting that there is a clear relationship between the number of tumors that can be removed by surgery and survival time

They found that CBD seems to be good at changing the tumor’s ecosystem or supporting the tumor’s microenvironment, including restoring inflammation levels, rather than protecting glioblastoma, which may make it a safe, effective and novel adjuvant treatment for these patients
.

Corresponding author Baban said: "This is related to immune balance
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" Inflammation is a response to tumor frontline attack, which is a normal response; in fact, our immune system often attacks cancer or precancerous cells

The tumor microenvironment established by cancer cells, including immune cells, blood vessels, and growth factors, allows more blood vessels to grow, which is the key to tumor growth and survival, so that it thrives where the tumor starts and spreads
.

For glioblastoma, the tumor microenvironment has been shown to have increased natural immune checkpoint activity, which, as the name implies, helps prevent excessive immune responses that may harm the body , Just like what happens in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
.

But in this case attenuation means protecting the tumor

CBD can improve the immune combination against tumors, including reducing tumor absorption of glial cells-a type of brain cell that usually protects neurons, including inflammation to fight invaders-has become the main component of tumors, and now Macrophages associated with glioblastoma, known as glioblastoma, help support and protect it
.

It also inhibits the protein p-selectin, which usually plays a role in damage repair and other important functions.
One of the help it recruits is platelets
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However, in cancer, p-selectin helps tumors spread and resist treatment.

Apelin is a ubiquitous enzyme produced by many different types of cells, usually at low levels in the brain
.
But in glioblastoma, its expression is much higher.
Researchers say that it supports the growth of key blood vessels.
In addition to promoting cancer stem cells to produce tumors, it is also the key to tumor resistance treatment
.
There is also evidence that apelin acts as an immune checkpoint in the tumor microenvironment, and other studies have shown that inhibiting apelin, as done by CBD, can reduce the growth rate of fatal brain tumors
.

CBD also inhibits IL-8.
Macrophages usually release IL-8 to promote inflammation and help repair damage, and recruit other immune cells in the process
.
But glioblastoma also secretes IL-8 to help promote cell migration and angiogenesis, and its levels have been shown to be high in many cancers, including glioblastoma
.
In fact, these fast-growing tumors are good at growing blood vessels, which in turn support their growth.
Drugs targeting this particular skill have proven to be helpful
.

CBD also reduces other key immune checkpoints, such as indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), another known local blockade of tumor immune response
.

CBD also improves the mixture by increasing the expression of CD103 (a complex substance that helps the immune system recognize cancer and is usually associated with a better cancer prognosis) and CD8 (a glycocoated protein that also helps the immune response)
.
There is evidence that suppressing immune checkpoints (which is what CBD does) will increase the levels of both
.

Baban said: "This is a mystery, that's why we need a good immune regulator
.
" He said: "CBD is a very smart regulator," can be adjusted according to the environment, such as in glioblastoma Decrease apelin in the medium, and increase apelin in the face of COVID-damaged lungs
.
Researchers at DCG and MCG reported last year that CBD actually increased apelin levels.
They have shown that with SARS-CoV-2 infection, apelin levels will decrease.
In this case, an increase in apelin reduces inflammation.
And the "cytokine storm" that damages the lungs of patients
.

When talking about the effect of cannabinoids on glioblastoma, Baban said: "Now we are very happy to see the tumor shrink
.
" He and Rutkowski noted that the positive results of inhalation of CBD did not compare with surgery.
Other therapies are combined
.
They predict that if CBD is finally used in these patients, it will become a new adjunct to these treatments
.

The next steps include observing how long the positive changes last, and further observing the impact on cancer stem cells
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They also want to assess the impact of CBD on the high recurrence rate of glioblastoma
.
Baban said that they have more evidence to prove hope: In an earlier study, they incubated tumor cells in CBD before transplantation and did not produce tumors
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Rutkowski said that 15 years ago, the latest major progress was made in the treatment of glioblastoma.
The chemotherapy drug temozolamide was added to radiotherapy, which prolonged the patient’s survival period by about one and a half months.
The nursing staff all welcomed this
.

The ability of cannabidiol to control inflammation, and their experience in research on other diseases where inflammation is critical, including Alzheimer's disease, prompted Baban and his colleagues to seek cannabis derivatives to treat glioblastoma
.
Other researchers are studying the combination of CBD with other cannabis derivatives (including tetrahydrocannabinol), but because CBD is an interactive compound, including binding with other active compounds in cannabis (such as tetrahydrocannabinol), DCG and MCG researchers believe that CBD alone will be more effective
.