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Scientists look at using cannabis to treat ovarian cancer
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A group of American researchers made an unexpected discovery: it turned out that the constituent components of the hemp plant can be effectively used to treat ovarian cancer, as well as to prevent metastasis.
Hemp is considered one of the oldest plants used for cultivation: humans have known it for over seven thousand years. Hemp raw materials were actively used to make fabrics, rope, canvas, etc. However, with the beginning of the 20th century, the cultivation of the plant was limited, due to a number of reasons. Today, American medicine has begun to seriously consider the revival of the use of hemp for medical purposes.
Sullivan University (Louisville) researchers have begun studying the anti-cancer properties of plants.
The study involved special varieties of hemp grown in Kentucky – the Ky hemp variety, which is capable of providing the highest level of medicinal components and grows in ecologically clean regions.
During the first experiment, scientists introduced hemp extract into laboratory material of tumor cells. According to the results, this extract reduced the migration properties of cellular structures. Similar experiments had previously been conducted on cannabidiol, but scientists learned about the effect of migration inhibition for the first time. Specialists expressed hope that hemp extracts will soon be introduced into the antimetastatic treatment regimen for ovarian cancer.
"The important information we have obtained is that the hemp plant, belonging to the Ky hemp variety, has a pronounced antimetastatic effect - at least in relation to a tumor such as ovarian cancer," the scientists say.
The next experiment was aimed at studying the preventive abilities of the plant extract. It was found that cannabis potentiates the production of the immunoprotein interleukin-1, which prevents the development of the malignant process.
"According to preliminary results, preparations based on the hemp of the specified variety inhibit the growth and spread of cancerous tumors in the ovaries. Moreover, the effect of such preparations is expected to be greater than that of the well-known and widely used anti-cancer drug Cisplatin," explains one of the authors of the project.
A big disadvantage of Cisplatin is its considerable toxicity. Cannabis preparations are expected to have fewer side effects.
Scientists continue to work on this issue: clinical trials involving cancer patients are to be conducted soon.
The specialists reported the results in detail at the regular conference of the American Biochemical and Microbiological Society (California, San Diego), which is indicated on the Internet pages of Sullivan University (Sullivan.edu).
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