title: Anticancer mechanisms of cannabinoids.
abstract: In addition to the well-known palliative effects of cannabinoids on some cancer-associated symptoms, a large body of evidence shows that these molecules can decrease tumour growth in animal models of cancer. They do so by modulating key cell signalling pathways involved in the control of cancer cell proliferation and survival. In addition, cannabinoids inhibit angiogenesis and decrease metastasis in various tumour types in laboratory animals. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of cannabinoids as antitumour agents, focusing on recent discoveries about their molecular mechanisms of action, including resistance mechanisms and opportunities for their use in combination therapy. Those observations have already contributed to the foundation for the development of the first clinical studies that will analyze the safety and potential clinical benefit of cannabinoids as anticancer agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Madrid, Spain;; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Madrid, Spain;; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain;
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Madrid, Spain;; Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain;
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Madrid, Spain;; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Madrid, Spain;; Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guzmán
keywords: Cannabinoids; angiogenesis; apoptosis; autophagy; cell proliferation; cell signalling; combination therapy