THC Prevents Colon Cancer In Mice, Findings Suggest

People suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, which leads to chronic inflammation, are on the fast track to colon cancer, but prevention might begin with cannabis.

Young adults typically brush off the risk of colon cancer as an old man’s disease, yet the illness is becoming increasingly common in people under the age of 50. Consider the tragic outcome of Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman, who died at age 43 after a heroic battle with colon cancer—despite his otherwise impeccable physique and health. 

A class of conditions exhibiting variable levels of severity are called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—difficult-to-treat conditions ranging from ulcerative colitis to Crohn’s disease. IBD can lead to chronic inflammation, which can lead to oncogenesis, or progress into cancer. Colon cancer, in particular, is a disease with relatively grim survival rates and only a handful of viable options for treatment. In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that 1.3% of all U.S. adults reported receiving a diagnosis for IBD, and the condition usually creates a domino effect of other symptoms.

New research, however, suggests that cannabis’ psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could help prevent colitis-associated colon cancer in mice.

A team of researchers associated with the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia observed the effects of THC in mouse models to evaluate the potential efficacy of the compound in preventing colon cancer in humans. The team’s research was published last month in an issue of iScience.

“Our research in the past has shown that THC is a potent anti-inflammatory agent,” says senior study author Prakash Nagarkatti, Ph.D. “What we found in this study was that THC acts on CB2 receptors that are uniquely expressed on immune cells in the gut and thereby prevent them from producing certain harmful cytokines secreted by them that drives the cancer such as Interleukin-22 (IL-22).”

The unique properties of cannabinoids are the precise reason why conventional medicine just doesn’t cut it. People suffering from IBD—especially ulcerative colitis—often say that symptoms persist and are difficult to treat. Without addressing these problems early on, it can progress to cancer.

“In the gut, chronic inflammation triggers IL-22 which drives the cancer,”  Nagarkatti explains. “Thus, THC by blocking IL-22 may prevent the development of cancer.”

But prevention is key, as inflammation can be abated early on to prevent conditions from getting worse. It’s unwise for people with chronic inflammation of the gut to let it persist for too long.

“Inflammation is a double-edged sword,” Nagarkartti warns. “On one hand, you need it to fight infections. But on the other hand, excess inflammation leads to development of cancer. This is especially true with colon cancer. Thus, patients with IBD who develop chronic inflammation of the gut are more susceptible to development of colon cancer. Therefore, THC which suppresses chronic inflammation helps prevent the development of cancer.”

At the conclusion of the investigation, the mice who received THC showed no tumors, but the control group did show signs of tumor growth. The mice in the THC group also had significantly less colonic inflammation, which is a symptom of IBD.

“The immune system is like a car: The two most important features are the accelerator and the brake,” Nagarkartti explains. “Pressing the accelerator triggers inflammation, and use of brakes stops the inflammation. In patients with IBD, the brakes don’t function very well because of which they get chronic inflammation, and THC acts like a brake.” 

CB2 is expressed on immune cells and in bountiful quantities in the gastrointestinal system. Coincidentally, CB2 receptors modulate inflammation in the intestine, as noted by previous research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

“The exciting findings of our study is that THC acts through CB2 receptors. Thus, we may be able to use drugs that target only the CB2 receptors to prevent colon cancer. And such drugs will be better than THC because they will not be psychoactive.”

When THC binds to CB2 receptors, the action triggers an anti-inflammatory response, which is potentially useful in parts of the body such as the intestines and colon.

This builds upon past research exploring the potential benefits of THC in treating Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other forms of IBD. 

Nagarkartti and his team of researchers are slowly determining if THC may play a crucial role in preventing colon cancer in mice. The key to prevention of colon cancer is the control of chronic inflammation—with growing evidence pointing towards THC as a viable option.