Unlocking the potential: Cannabidiol (CBD) as a promising anti-tumor agent.

BACKGROUND: Cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-psychoactive component of cannabis, is renowned for its antiepileptic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Emerging evidence highlights its potential as an anti-tumor agent, yet significant heterogeneity in preclinical studies and an incomplete mechanistic understanding impede its clinical translation.

PURPOSE: This review aims to systematically evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and safety profile of CBD, and to discuss the challenges and future directions for its application in oncology.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review.

METHODS: We integrated recent high-quality research to assess CBD's effects across various cancer types. The analysis encompassed its mechanisms in tumor cell biology and the tumor microenvironment (TME), a comparison of monotherapy versus combination therapy efficacy, its role in managing cancer-related symptoms, and its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. Advances in nano-based drug delivery systems were also reviewed.

RESULTS: CBD demonstrates multi-target anti-tumor effects, including inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, suppressing metastasis, and remodeling the TME via immunomodulation. It exhibits broad-spectrum efficacy in vitro and in vivo, shows synergistic effects in combination therapy, and can alleviate cancer-related symptoms. Safety data indicate a favorable tolerability profile. However, current evidence relies predominantly on preclinical models.

CONCLUSION: CBD holds substantial promise as an anti-tumor agent. This review provides a theoretical foundation for its rational development. Future work should focus on validating these findings in clinical trials, optimizing targeted drug delivery systems, and establishing standardized treatment protocols.