Emerging Role of Cannabinoid System

Modulators in Treatment of Cancer

12

Sheetal Singh, Smita Pattanaik, Ravimohan S. Mavuduru,

and Shrawan Kumar Singh

Abstract

Endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its agonist/antagonists are emerging drug

target in different pathophysiological conditions, and its role as an anticancer

agent has been extensively explored recently. Psychotropic effects of cannabi-

noid, a century-old ingredient of Cannabis sativa, are widely used as a palliative

care for cancer patients apart from its recreational uses. This chapter outlines

briefly the overall ECS system which is further extended to exploration of this

system in various diseases and cancer. Recent reports have suggested

implications of ECS system components as an anticancer agent through different

signaling pathways. Important pathways like MAPK and mTOR-AKT contribute

to tumor development, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance in

different cancer types. Interestingly, cannabinoids are found to reverse their

effects, through the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and immune system

modulating pathways. We have elaborated the pathways through which ECS

system mediates cancer cell death, inhibits the angiogenesis pathway, and negates

the chemotherapy resistance in different cancer types. We have also explored how

ECS system modulators may regulate diverse signaling mechanisms in tumor

microenvironment and whether they impart a therapeutic effect. Finally, we

highlighted recent and ongoing clinical trials that include cannabinoids as a

therapeutic strategy and several combined approaches toward novel therapeutic

avenues in treatment of cancer.

S. Singh · S. Pattanaik (*) · R. S. Mavuduru · S. K. Singh

Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research,

Chandigarh, India

e-mail: pattanaik.smita@pgimer.edu.in; shrawanksingh2002@yahoo.com

# The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte

Ltd. 2022

R. C. Sobti, N. S. Dhalla (eds.), Biomedical Translational Research,

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9232-1_12

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