Cannabidiol (CBD) is a biologically active molecule in cannabis. Research examining the use of CBD to help treat prostate cancer is still in the early stages. Some evidence suggests that it may help reduce treatment side effects.
The prostate is a male reproductive organ located below the bladder that produces semen. Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate replicate out of control.
Currently, some of the most common treatments for prostate cancer include:
CBD is one of the active ingredients in the cannabis plant. People often use it to induce relaxation or treat chronic pain.
Some very early studies in animals and on isolated cells suggest that CBD may have anticancer properties. But these studies are very early, and there’s currently no evidence that CBD can make an effective primary cancer treatment.
There’s currently stronger evidence that CBD might be able to improve cancer and cancer treatment side effects.
Read on to learn more about what the research has found about using CBD for treating prostate cancer.
CBD vs. THC
Cannabis contains hundreds of nutrients, including at least 80 biologically active compounds called cannabinoids.
CBD and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two of the nutrients in cannabis of interest to researchers. They can potentially affect human health by binding to cannabinoid receptors throughout your body.
THC is a psychoactive nutrient responsible for the “high” that most people associate with cannabis.
CBD doesn’t create a “high.” It often induces feelings of relaxation or sleepiness. Some people take it to help reduce chronic pain.
Currently, there’s not enough evidence that CBD can help treat prostate cancer in humans, but research is ongoing. Some very early studies have had promising results.
The process of developing new cancer drugs usually takes many years. When researchers think that a certain drug might be effective, they start their investigation by performing tests on isolated cells and in animals.
If the results of these studies are promising, they move on to perform clinical trials in humans. Early clinical trials involve a small number of people taking the drug. If the drug seems to be safe and effective, larger numbers of people begin to take it over time.
Finally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulating agencies approve the drug if the results of phase 3 clinical trials suggest that it’s acceptably safe and effective.
Where is CBD in the research process?
Research examining the benefits of CBD for treating prostate cancer is still in the earliest stages and hasn’t yet advanced to human research.
That said, in a 2023 study, researchers found that CBD inhibited the division of prostate cancer cells isolated in a laboratory. Previous research found that CBD may also sensitize dog cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs.
The two main types of cannabinoid receptors in your body are called CB1 and CB2. Prostate cancer cells seem to express more of these receptors than healthy cells.
This has raised interest among researchers in investigating the potentially beneficial effects of various nutrients in cannabis as potential prostate cancer treatments. They’re particularly interested in CBD because it doesn’t cause a “high” like THC.
Experts believe that the nutrients in cannabis could have many benefits, such as:
People often take CBD to help relieve chronic pain. Anonymous surveys of members of Breastcancer.org and Healthline.com communities found that the most common conditions that people took CBD to treat included:
Many of these symptoms can also be symptoms of advanced prostate cancer or side effects of prostate cancer treatment.
Early research suggests that CBD or CBD combined with THC might help treat cancer-associated:
The most common side effects of CBD include:
The main concern with commercially available CBD is that it’s frequently contaminated or mislabeled because it’s not FDA regulated.
Some products contain more active ingredients than the label says, while others contain no or very little active ingredient. Some products also contain clinically significant amounts of THC, which can trigger psychoactive side effects and cause a positive drug test.
The only FDA-approved cannabis product of botanical origin is a concentrated form of CBD called Epidiolex, which contains only CBD. It can treat certain seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
Researchers are still investigating the use of THC by itself or with other cannabinoids for treating cancer and cancer symptoms. Areas of research currently include examining the benefits of medical cannabis for:
CBD is legal in almost every state and is widely available from many retailers. But CBD products aren’t regulated by the FDA, except for the medication Epidiolex, which can treat several rare forms of epilepsy.
When buying CBD, it’s best to buy it from a pharmacy, state-regulated dispensary, or trusted manufacturer with products that have been third-party tested. This will give you the best chance of receiving a product free of contamination and with proper labeling.
There’s no standard dose of CBD established for relieving cancer treatment-related symptoms. It’s generally best to start with a small dose of around 20 to 40 milligrams and work up, if you tolerate it well.
Some early research suggests that CBD might have anticancer properties. But these studies were on isolated cells, and there’s currently no human research examining the effectiveness of CBD for cancer treatment.
CBD may help some people reduce chronic pain or treatment-related side effects, like nausea or vomiting. When taking CBD for this purpose, it’s best to start with a small dose and to see how well you tolerate it before working up to a larger dose.
Research into the use of CBD to help treat prostate cancer is still in the early stages. Some evidence suggests it may help reduce treatment side effects. Read More