The use of cannabinoids in palliating cancer-related symptoms: a narrative review

Despite uncertain efficacy, cannabinoids and derived products are becoming increasingly used in the field of palliative care for oncologic patients. Cannabinoids chiefly include psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). Use of and research interest in THC, CBD, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings - Baylor University. Medical Center 2024, Vol.37 (2), p.288-294
Main Authors: Hatfield, Jess, Suthar, Krishna, Meyer, Tricia A, Wong, Lucas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer
Cannabidiol
Chemotherapy
Clinical trials
Palliative care
Tetrahydrocannabinol
THC
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Summary:Despite uncertain efficacy, cannabinoids and derived products are becoming increasingly used in the field of palliative care for oncologic patients. Cannabinoids chiefly include psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). Use of and research interest in THC, CBD, and combination THC/CBD products have increased in recent years, particularly after the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 made cannabis plants with 50 patients studying cannabinoid use in cancer patients. We found that THC products, including THC and THC/CBD combination products, are helpful for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting. CBD products were not helpful for this indication. For most other studied indications (anorexia/cachexia, mood, general global symptoms), there was no convincing evidence to support widespread cannabinoid use in cancer symptom management. The evidence for treating cancer-related pain with THC/CBD products is somewhat conflicting. We conclude that, apart from using THC products to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, cannabinoid products should not be routinely recommended for cancer supportive care. Further research in the form of large randomized controlled trials is warranted in this area.
ISSN:0899-8280
1525-3252
DOI:10.1080/08998280.2023.2301241