Changes in the endocannabinoid system may give insight into new and effective treatments for cancer.
The endocannabinoid system comprises specific cannabinoid receptors such as Cb1 and Cb2, the endogenous ligands (anandamide and 2-arachidonyl glycerol among others) and the proteins responsible for their synthesis and degradation. This system has become the focus of research in recent years because of its potential therapeutic value several disease states. The following review describes our current knowledge of the changes that occur in the endocannabinoid system during carcinogenesis and then focuses on the effects of anandamide on various aspects of the carcinogenic process such as growth, migration, and angiogenesis in tumors from various origins.
Alpini
Gianfranco
G
Department of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA.
Demorrow
Sharon
S
D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology*; D002273:Carcinogens; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases
D000581:Amidohydrolases; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002273:Carcinogens; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases; C078814:anandamide