New research shows the potential of cannabis extracts in treating melanoma. 

Researchers at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) have found that a specific cannabis extract can have a significant impact on melanoma cells, one of Australia's most aggressive cancers. 

Published in the journal Cells, the study highlights the extract's ability to induce programmed cell death (known as ‘apoptosis’) in melanoma cells, presenting a potential new avenue for cancer treatment.

The research, led by RMIT’s Dr Ava Bachari and CDU's Dr Nazim Nassar, focused on cannabinoid PHEC-66, derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. 

The study demonstrates how this compound binds to receptor sites on melanoma cells, inhibiting cell growth at critical phases and increasing cell damage, thereby triggering apoptosis. 

“The damage to the melanoma cell prevents it from dividing into new cells, and instead begins a programmed cell death,” Dr Nassar says.

This discovery opens up discussions on the use of cannabis extracts in cancer treatment, moving beyond the stigma to explore its potential as an anticancer agent. 

“This is a growing area of important research because we need to understand cannabis extracts as much as possible, especially their potential to function as anticancer agents,” Dr Nassar said. 

The next steps involve developing targeted delivery systems for these extracts to ensure their efficacy and safety in pre-clinical trials. 

“Advanced delivery systems still need to be fully developed,” says Dr Nassar.

With melanoma accounting for a significant proportion of skin cancer deaths and current treatments often associated with adverse side effects, the exploration of natural alternatives like cannabis extract offers a hopeful prospect.