Cannabidiol alters the epigenome of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells

Cannabidiol (CBD) shows promising anti-cancer effects, including reducing proliferation and migration and inducing cell death. However, its impact on cancer gene regulation and epigenetic mechanisms remains poorly understood, particularly in prostate cancer, a disease characterised by widespread epigenetic alterations.

This study investigated whether CBD exerts anti-cancer effects in prostate cancer by modulating cell viability, gene expression, and the epigenome and whether it enhances the efficacy of targeted and hormonal agents.

Prostate cancer cell lines (DU145, PC3, LNCaP) were treated with varying concentrations of CBD, Talazoparib, GSK126 and enzalutamide. Cell viability was assessed by MTT. Transcriptomic changes were analysed by RNAseq and qRT-PCR, and epigenetic effects were evaluated by the Infinium MethylationEpic V2.0 BeadChip array. Analysis of total 5mC and expression/activity of EZH2 were assessed by ELIZA and Western blot respectively.

Epigenetically, CBD altered methylation patterns in LNCaP cells, while modulating DNMT1 and EZH2 expression across models. However, EZH2 catalytic activity was unchanged. CBD induced widespread transcriptional changes, particularly in LNCaP cells, with enrichment of cell cycle pathways and downregulation of key regulators (e.g., CDK1/2). CBD reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, showing additive or synergistic effects with both targeted and hormonal therapies.

CBD exerts anti-cancer effects in prostate cancer, potentially through disruption of cell cycle regulation and epigenetic modulation. These findings support its potential as a therapeutic agent, particularly in combination with targeted treatments.