Cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer anorexia and cachexia: Where have we been, where are we going?

Emily Seymour-Jackson; Barry J A Laird; Judith Sayers; Marie Fallon; Tora S Solheim; Richard Skipworth

doi:10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100292

Cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer anorexia and cachexia: Where have we been, where are we going?

Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2023 Aug 7;10(Suppl 1):100292. doi: 10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100292. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Emily Seymour-Jackson¹, Barry J A Laird^{2

3}, Judith Sayers^{2

4}, Marie Fallon³, Tora S Solheim^{5

6}, Richard Skipworth³

Affiliations

¹ University of Glasgow Medical School, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
² St Columba's Hospice, Boswall Road, Edinburgh, UK.
³ Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁴ Clinical Surgery University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁵ Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
⁶ Cancer Clinic, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.

Abstract

Cachexia-anorexia cancer syndrome remains an unmet clinical need with a dearth of treatment and no standard of care. Acting through the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids are one potential cancer cachexia treatment. Herein, the potential mechanisms for cannabinoids for cancer cachexia are discussed as are previous and ongoing clinical trials.

Keywords: Cachexia; Cancer; Cannabinoids; Cytokine; Inflammation; Interleukin.

Publication types

Review