09/04/2023
PROSTATE CANCER & A NEW CB2 LIGAND
Three studies from the first few months of 2023 probe the function of CB2 in three different cancer models. While their findings are complex and not necessarily conclusive, they contribute to a growing body of knowledge about the potential efficacy of cannabinoids in cancer treatment.
A paper published in February in the International Journal of Molecular Sciencesoffers two insights for the price of one: first, another look at how the CB2 receptor functions in a cellular model of cancer; and second, new evidence that a compound called 3-3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) – present in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and a number of leafy greens – exerts anti-cancer effects through the CB2 receptor.
By testing DIM on two different human prostate cancer cell lines, the Italy- and UK-based researchers observed that the compound activated naturally expressed CB2 receptors in both lines – and that in one, known as “PC3,” CB2 activation led to cell death, an effect that was reversed when the researchers blocked the CB2 receptor with an antagonist.
If true, cruciferous vegetables join saffron, black pepper, cloves, oregano, and some other spices as foods containing compounds that interact with the CB2 receptor in beneficial ways.
