Cannabis-based treatment ‘six times’ more effective at killing cancer cells

A combination of cannabinoids and mushrooms has been found to drastically improve  effectiveness in killing cancer cells, when used alongside standard chemotherapy.

New research conducted in Israel shows that new products containing cannabinoids and mushrooms, are up to six times more effective in killing cancer cells than existing treatments, when used in conjunction with standard chemotherapy. 

The cell model study also revealed CannaboBreast products, developed by the biomedical company Cannabotech, could allow for decreased doses of chemotherapy, and therefore side effects, while increasing efficiency of the treatment.

CannaboBreast is based on a unique combination of cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant and functional mushrooms extracts. 

Results showed that the composition of cannabinoids and mushrooms improved the effectiveness in killing cancer cells sixfold, from 10 per cent mortality to 60 per cent.

Along with the ability to increase existing treatments’ effectiveness, it may be possible to achieve increased efficacy of killing breast cancer cells while significantly reducing chemotherapy doses, which is also expected to dramatically reduce side effects and enable healing for more patients who currently cannot undergo conventional treatment due to the side effects.

The experiment also emphasised the importance of tailoring treatment, applying CannaboBreast products to different breast cancer subtypes, achieving other medical effects in combination with the appropriate drugs for each subtype. 

Cannabotech is developing a personalisation system to provide physicians with the knowledge with which drug treatments and sub-cancer types should CannaboBreast products be combined.

Additional cancer treatments

Around 50 per cent of breast cancer patients receive additional integrative treatment in addition to conventional treatment (mainly herbal products including cannabis and mushrooms), with one of the reasons for using the integrative product being to strengthen the immune system to improve the effectiveness of treatment and reduce side effects.

The study was conducted under the guidance of Professor Tami Peretz, senior oncologist at Hadassah Medical Center, former director of the Oncology Institute and former director of the Center for Malignant Breast Diseases at Hadassah Medical Center, and Dr. Isaac Angel, pharmacologist specialising in drug development.

Prof Peretz, commented: “A significant proportion of active cancer patients are currently treated with cannabis in parallel with conventional treatment. The integrative products developed by Cannabotech are unique in that they are developed to standards similar to those of the pharmaceutical industry and combine several active agents. The company’s products have demonstrated impressive and very promising activity in laboratory-tested cell cultures. Based on these experiments, there is room to start exploring the possibility of integrating the products in the treatment of breast cancer patients as well.”

Cannabotech’s pharmacological consultant, Dr Angel, added: “The strong synergistic effect shown by the products in combination with the chemotherapies in different types of breast cancer cells has led to up to six times the effectiveness in cells killing. We are encouraged by these results, which constitute another important milestone in proving the scientific feasibility of the products. We will continue to work to provide a cure for patients.”

Arriving in 2022

Cannabotech, which opened its first concept store in London last year, is aiming to make the products available in the UK, US and Israel in 2022. 

CEO Elhanan Shaked, said: “This is a significant milestone in Cannabotech’s growth to becoming a leader in integrative medicine. The integrative products developed by Cannabotech are intended for use in combination with chemotherapy treatment in several cancers and are expected to be launched in several markets in the second half of 2022, while the Company’s goal is to define a new standard for the medical cannabis industry.”

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