A study has found that a cannabis extract has a “deadly” effect on melanoma skin cancer cells.
In a laboratory setting, researchers from Charles Darwin University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia discovered that a cannabis extract exhibits a “lethal” impact on melanoma cells.
Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States. While melanoma only represents about one percent of all skin cancers, it is responsible for around 80 percent of deaths caused by skin cancer, as stated by the American Cancer Society.
According to a study published in the Cells journal, a specific extract from Cannabis sativa has been found to have anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, in melanoma cells.
According to biotechnologist and co-author of the study, Nazim Nassar, the extract has been found to attach to the receptor on the cell surface. This attachment leads to a manipulation of the normal growth process, forcing the cell to undergo a programmed cell death.
Before moving on to human trials, it is essential to conduct animal trials to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these products.
Finding a way to deliver the extract directly to the cell is of utmost importance. It is likely that a topical or subcutaneous method, such as applying it on the skin or injecting it under the skin, would be needed to ensure that the medicine reaches the target cells effectively.
Animal trials will precede human trials in order to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
