Cannabinoids and their derivatives in struggle against melanoma

Comparison of decarboxylation rates of acidic cannabinoids between secretory cavity contents and air-dried inflorescence extracts in Cannabis sativa cv. 'Cherry Wine'

Studies with secretory cavity contents and air-dried inflorescence extracts of the CBD-rich hemp strain, Cannabis sativa cv. 'Cherry Wine', were conducted to compare the decarboxylation rates of acidic cannabinoids between two groups. The secretory cavity contents acquired from the capitate-stalked glandular trichomes by glass microcapillaries, and inflorescence samples air-dried for 15 days of storage in darkness at room temperature were analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The ratio of acidic cannabinoids to the total cannabinoids was ranging from 0.5% to 2.4% lower in the air-dried inflorescence samples compared to the secretory cavity samples as follows. In the secretory cavity content, the percentage of acidic cannabinoids to the total cannabinoids was measured as 86.4% cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), 6.5% tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), 4.3% cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), 1.4% cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), and 0.6% cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), respectively. In the air-dried inflorescence, however, the acidic cannabinoids were detected with 84% CBDA, 4.8% THCA, 3.3% CBCA, 0.8% CBGA, and 0.3% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (Δ9-THCVA), respectively. The ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) was close to 1:99 (w/w) in secretory cavity contents, however, it was roughly 1:20 (w/w) in the air-dried inflorescence. In addition, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ9-THCV) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (Δ9-THCVA) were only detected in the air-dried inflorescence sample, and the ratio of Δ9-THCV to Δ9-THCVA was about 1:20 (w/w). Besides, cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) was only observed in the secretory cavity content.

AM1172 (a hydrolysis-resistant endocannabinoid analog that inhibits anandamide cellular uptake) reduces the viability of the various melanoma cells, but it exerts significant cytotoxic effects on healthy cells: an in vitro study based on isobolographic analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite great advances in our understanding of the impact of cannabinoids on human organism, many of their properties still remain undetermined, including their potential antineoplastic effects. This study was designed to assess the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of AM1172 (a hydrolysis-resistant endocannabinoid analog that inhibits anandamide cellular uptake) administered alone and in combinations with docetaxel (DOCX), paclitaxel (PACX), mitoxantrone (MTX) and cisplatin (CDDP) on various human malignant melanoma A375, FM55P, SK-MEL 28 and FM55M2 cell lines.

MATERIALS

In the MTT, LDH, and BrdU assays, the potency and safety of AM1172 when administered alone and in combinations with DOCX, PACX, MTX, and CDDP were determined.

RESULTS

The isobolographic analysis revealed that combinations of AM1172 with PACX, DOCX, MTX, and CDDP exerted additive interactions, except for a combination of AM1172 with PACX in primary melanoma A375 cell line, for which synergy was observed (*p<0.05). Nevertheless, AM1172 when administered alone produced cytotoxic effects on healthy human melanocytes (HEMa-LP) and human keratinocytes (HaCaT), which unfortunately limits its potential therapeutic utility.

CONCLUSIONS

AM1172 cannot be used separately as a chemotherapeutic drug, but it can be combined with PACX, DOCX, MTX, and CDDP, offering additive interactions in terms of the anti-proliferative effects in various malignant melanoma cell lines.

Rationalizing a prospective coupling effect of cannabinoids with the current pharmacotherapy for melanoma treatment

Melanoma is one of the leading fatal forms of cancer, yet from a treatment perspective, we have minimal control over its reoccurrence and resistance to current pharmacotherapies. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has recently been accepted as a multifaceted homeostatic regulator, influencing various physiological processes across different biological compartments, including the skin. This review presents an overview of the pathophysiology of melanoma, current pharmacotherapy used for treatment, and the challenges associated with the different pharmacological approaches. Furthermore, it highlights the utility of cannabinoids as an additive remedy for melanoma by restoring the balance between downregulated immunomodulatory pathways and elevated inflammatory cytokines during chronic skin conditions as one of the suggested critical approaches in treating this immunogenic tumor. This article is categorized under: Cancer > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

Comparison of the Anticancer Effects of Arvanil and Olvanil When Combined with Cisplatin and Mitoxantrone in Various Melanoma Cell Lines-An Isobolographic Analysis

Due to the unique structures of arvanil and olvanil, the drugs combine certain properties of both cannabinoids and vanilloids, which makes them able to stimulate both TPRV1 and CB1 receptors and causes them to be interesting agents in the setting of carcinoma treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of arvanil and olvanil when administered alone and in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) and mitoxantrone (MTX), using various primary (A375, FM55P) and metastatic (SK-MEL 28, FM55M2) human malignant melanoma cell lines. The results indicate that both arvanil and olvanil inhibited (dose-dependently) the viability and proliferation of various malignant melanoma cells, as demonstrated by MTT and BrdU assays. The safety profile of both arvanil and olvanil tested in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and normal human melanocytes (HEMa-LP) revealed that neither arvanil nor olvanil caused significant cytotoxicity in HaCaT and HEMa-LP cell lines in LDH and MTT assays. Isobolographically, it was found that both arvanil and olvanil exerted additive interactions with MTX and antagonistic interactions with CDDP in the studied malignant melanoma cell lines. In conclusion, the combinations of arvanil or olvanil with MTX may be considered as a part of melanoma multi-drug therapy; however, the combination of these compounds with CDDP should be carefully considered due to the antagonistic interactions observed in the studied malignant melanoma cell lines.

Cannabidiol Interacts Antagonistically with Cisplatin and Additively with Mitoxantrone in Various Melanoma Cell Lines-An Isobolographic Analysis

The medical application of cannabidiol (CBD) has been gathering increasing attention in recent years. This non-psychotropic cannabis-derived compound possesses antiepileptic, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic properties. Recent studies report that it also exerts antineoplastic effects in multiple types of cancers, including melanoma. In this in vitro study we tried to reveal the anticancer properties of CBD in malignant melanoma cell lines (SK-MEL 28, A375, FM55P and FM55M2) administered alone, as well as in combination with mitoxantrone (MTX) or cisplatin (CDDP). The effects of CBD on the viability of melanoma cells were measured by the MTT assay; cytotoxicity was determined in the LDH test and proliferation in the BrdU test. Moreover, the safety of CBD was tested in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) in LDH and MTT tests. Results indicate that CBD reduces the viability and proliferation of melanoma-malignant cells and exerts additive interactions with MTX. Unfortunately, CBD produced antagonistic interaction when combined with CDDP. CBD does not cause significant cytotoxicity in HaCaT cell line. In conclusion, CBD may be considered as a part of melanoma multi-drug therapy when combined with MTX. A special attention should be paid to the combination of CBD with CDDP due to the antagonistic interaction observed in the studied malignant melanoma cell lines.