Anticancer Efficacy of CBD Pure Isolates and Commercially Available Water-Soluble CBD in Colorectal Cancer
Abstract
Career Goals: It is my strong belief that improving scientific literacy amongst the general population is imperative for our society as a whole, in order to face the challenges of our modern life. I want to live and work in a rural area, where I believe I can make an impact through formal research and teaching as well as in less obvious venues such as Sunday school classes or at my daughters school. Therefore, I aspire to an academic position in the middle Tennessee area, in a local institution like MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University). I am also passionate about cancer research, having witnessed too many friends and family members succumb to different versions of this disease. Development of new drugs to treat advanced stage disease should be a top priority, and I want to contribute to that effort. Deciphering and harnessing the potential cancer-fighting entities in agricultural plants such as hemp gives me a direct way to connect with my community while also achieving my goals of improving cancer therapy. This study will lay the groundwork for further development of cannabidiol (CBD), a component of hemp without mind-altering properties, as a therapeutic agent for colorectal cancer, one of the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program priority areas. Working on the Aims I have developed under the guidance of my mentors and collaborators will enable me with a set of important skills to advance my future career. Scientific Objective and Rationale: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with about 140,000 new cases reported each year. The known number of new Veteran diagnoses per year is about 3,400. While early detection is key to improved survival, there are many people who choose not to avail themselves of screening options who may be diagnosed with more advanced cancers, which can lead to a drastically lower survival rate. Additionally, there is a small but significant increase in younger age groups (prior to screening age) being diagnosed with colorectal cancers. Since the 5-year survival rate for advanced colorectal cancer is only 14%, there is a critical need to identify new and effective therapies. These days, there is a lot of interest in medicinal cannabis and its potential usefulness as a remedy for all manner of problems. Claims of anti-cancer activity are especially intriguing, given the need for new approaches; however, sorting out fact from fiction is difficult. CBD is a product from the hemp plant that does not have mind-altering properties, but does have several biological effects. However, up until now, CBD has been difficult to extract from the plant in a way that can be easily be taken orally and get into the bloodstream in biologically active amounts (that is, be bioavailable). The only way to get high levels is by inhalation; however, smoking hemp or cannabis is illegal in most states and also poses problems with determining proper dosing. Several direct-to-consumer companies have now started marketing a water-soluble CBD, advertising that up to 90% of the CBD present is bioavailable. If true, this would be a reliable and tolerable way to use CBD, and proper efficacy studies in cancer and other diseases would be possible. The goals of the study proposed here are to (1) find out if this water-soluble CBD has anti-cancer activity comparable to or better than a reference compound by testing its effects on cancer cells; (2) test if the water-soluble CBD really has higher bioavailability then the reference CBD isolate when given orally; and (3) test whether this water-soluble CBD can block or decrease colon cancers in mouse models. Providing rigorous evidence that CBD has real anti-cancer activity and is efficacious in colon cancer models at achievable doses could greatly accelerate the development of CBD as a new alternative for advanced colorectal cancer patients who currently have few options. How this will benefit active duty Service members, their fami
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910785
Entities
People
- Sarah Daron-mathis
Organizations
- Middle Tennessee State University
- United States Army