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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Tobacco Hornworm as an Insect Model System for Cannabinoid Pre-clinical Studies
Published on: December 29, 2021
The endocannabinoid system in cancer-potential therapeutic target?
Jenny Flygare1, Birgitta Sander
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Divison of Pathology, F46, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Endogenous arachidonic acid metabolites with properties similar to compounds of Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, the so-called endocannabinoids, have effects on various types of cancer. Although endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids may have pro-proliferative effects, predominantly inhibitory effects on tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration and metastasis have been described. Remarkably, these effects may be selective for the cancer cells, while normal cells and tissues are spared. Such apparent tumor cell selectivity makes the endocannabinoid system an attractive potential target for cancer therapy. In this review we discuss various means by which the endocannabinoid system may be targeted in cancer and the current knowledge considering the regulation of the endocannabinoid system in malignancy.
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