THC inhibited several processes involved in the growth and spread of endometrial cancer cells. In laboratory experiments, Δ9-THC reduced cancer-cell viability and motility and suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that helps cancer cells become more invasive and capable of spreading.
The study found that THC also reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), an enzyme that helps tumor cells break through surrounding tissue and is strongly associated with invasion and metastasis. By targeting MMP-9 and reversing EMT-related changes, THC interfered with mechanisms that endometrial cancer cells use to migrate and spread.
These findings suggest that THC may have potential to affect not only tumor-cell growth, but also the biological processes that drive invasion and metastasis in endometrial cancer. The study adds to evidence that cannabinoids can influence multiple cancer-related pathways beyond simple cell-killing effects.
“Limited therapeutic interventions are clinically available for treating aggressive endometrial cancer (EC). Therefore, effective therapies are urgently required.
Therefore, the present study investigated the role of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is reported to impact proliferative and migratory activities during impairment of cancer progression.
In the present study, cell migration in response to THC was measured using transwell assays. Using western blot analysis, the levels of cannabinoid receptors in EC tissues were detected and pathways leading to the inhibition of cell migration by THC on human EC cells were determined.
Results suggested that cannabinoid receptors were highly expressed in EC tissues. Furthermore, THC inhibited EC cell viability and motility by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and downregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene expression in aggressive human EC cells.
The results have the potential to promote the development of novel compounds for the treatment of EC metastasis. The presnet findings suggest that THC may inhibit human EC cell migration through regulating EMT and MMP-9 pathways.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29805589
“This current study found that cannabinoid receptors were over expressed in EC tissues and the protein levels were positively correlated with EMT markers. Furthermore, THC has been proven to inhibit EC cell motility and EMT through reducing MMP-9, which makes THC become a novel tumor suppressor in EC.”
https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ol.2018.8407
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