Symptoms Improve for Cancer Patients After Cannabis Extract Use, Study Finds

Approximately half of cancer patients experienced meaningful improvements in symptoms after using cannabis oil extracts placed under the tongue, according to results from a new Canadian study.

The study, which was published on the preprint server medRxiv, was conducted by oncology specialists from various Canadian universities and hospitals. Ninety-one participants took part in the trial across eight cancer centres in Canada.

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A Unique Trial Design

The study employed an unusual crossover trial design to address the fact that cannabinoids affect people differently:

• Each participant tested four different treatments in a randomised order: three types of cannabis oil (THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and a 1:1 balanced mixture) plus a placebo.
• Each treatment phase lasted four days, followed by a two-day "wash-out" period.
• Standard trials comparing single treatments between separate groups may underestimate benefits experienced by specific individuals.

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Key Findings & Symptom Relief

After analyzing Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) data, researchers found:

• High Overall Response: 56% of participants recorded meaningful symptom improvements after treatment with at least one extract.
• No Single Superior Extract: Crucially, no single type of extract proved better than the others on average, though most individuals found one specific formulation worked best for them personally.
• Subgroup Success Rates: Among specific symptom groups, response rates were:
  • 50% for pain relief.
  • 47% for sleep improvement.
  • 60% for anxiety reduction.
• Symptom Reduction: Over half of patients reported a 1.4-point reduction on the PGIC scale, equating to roughly a 20% overall improvement compared to the placebo.

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Addressing Patient Diversity

The study authors highlighted how a patient's unique physiology dictates their response to different cannabis profiles:

"There is substantial diversity between individuals in endocannabinoid physiology. Widespread anecdotal evidence suggests that some patients find cannabinoids very helpful, and others do not. Our finding that no preparation was better than the others on average, but most participants found one to provide greater benefit individually, explains why trials that focus on a single preparation may have underestimated the potential benefit of cannabinoids."

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Safety and Tolerability

The treatments were generally well-tolerated:

• A small number of mild to moderate adverse events (AEs) were reported.
• THC-dominant oils were 189% more likely to be associated with mild AEs than the placebo.
• All side effects resolved quickly when doses were reduced or temporarily suspended.

The researchers concluded that cannabis is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for cancer-related symptoms, stating:

"Medical cannabis extracts can be meaningfully beneficial for cancer-related symptoms in approximately 50% of patients, particularly for sleep and related symptoms. A starting dose of 2.5mg of THC/CBD three times a day was well-tolerated. Personalization of treatment is required to optimize response."