National Cancer Institute Study Looks At Cannabis Efficacy On Immunotherapy In Cancer Patients

A growing body of research on cancer and cannabis is a testament to the plant’s many uses.

Now, a psychologist at the University at Buffalo is studying the effects of cannabis use in oncology patients who receive immunotherapy, a treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer, resulting in fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

For this innovative research, Rebecca Ashare, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology in the UB College of Arts and Sciences and lead investigator, received $3.2 million in funding from the National Cancer Institute.

The Study

In partnership with Thomas Jefferson University and Oregon Health and Science University, the study led by UB will recruit participants for the three-site, 12-month observational study. Each site is expected to start 450 participants who treat cancer with ICI immunotherapy.

The research also seeks to investigate how disadvantaged neighborhoods influence outcomes associated with cannabis use and ICI immunotherapy.

“We want to see if access to cannabis reduces health disparities,” Ashare added.

See also: Cannabis For Cancer Symptoms, But How Are Patients Supposed To Know About Potency And Dosing?

Why It Matters

Ashare said more research is needed on the efficacy of using cannabis for symptom management during and after the patient’s immunotherapy treatments.

“There are virtually no long-term studies evaluating its potential benefits and harms for persons treated with immunotherapy for cancer, despite cancer and its treatments being qualifying conditions in most of the 37 states and Washington, D.C., that have legalized adult use or medical cannabis,” Ashare explained. “There are reports of benefits surrounding pain relief, improving mood and curbing sleep deprivation, but there is also evidence of physical, cognitive and mental harms, including cannabis use disorder.”

Immunotherapy treatment is administered to roughly 44% of cancer patients across a wide range of 20 tumor types. During and after their treatments, up to 40% of cancer patients use cannabis to alleviate their symptoms, according to UB’s website.

The principal investigator also said the concerns arise around cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties.

“That’s usually a good thing, except when you want the immune system to be active in order to fight cancer, so there are concerns that cannabis might reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy,” Ashare added.

Now read: Contaminants In Cannabis: Potential Risk For Vulnerable Patients, Study Shows More Research Needed

Photo: Benzinga edit of images by 2H Media and National Cancer Institute on Unsplash