The National Cancer Institute (NCI) $3.2 million grant to the reputable University of Buffalo
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a prominent organization at the forefront of cancer research, has recently endowed a massive $3.2 million grant to the reputable University of Buffalo. The university plans to utilize this substantial financial support towards conducting an in-depth study with the primary objective of exploring the influence of marijuana consumption on the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy treatment. This pioneering study is set to invite a total of 450 individuals who are currently seeking treatment for a variety of cancer types through the advanced method of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. This participant pool will be evenly divided, with half comprising of regular cannabis users, and the other half comprised of individuals who abstain from the use of cannabis. This clear segregation of the participants lays a solid foundation for a comparative study, offering a comprehensive view of the effects of cannabis use in the context of cancer immunotherapy treatment. The research team intends to meticulously scrutinize the potential advantages as well as the potential setbacks associated with marijuana use during the course of immunotherapy. This will be achieved by conducting an in-depth analysis of the participants’ medical records, tracking the trajectories of their health outcomes, and extracting and studying blood samples at six intervals over the span of a year. This research venture is by far the grandest and the most extensive of its kind ever undertaken. While it’s crucial to acknowledge that this study is purely observational in nature, meaning that the researchers will not be manipulating or assigning the participants to either consumption or non-consumption of cannabis, it is expected to yield invaluable insights. These insights will help delineate the potential benefits and risks associated with cannabis use, particularly in cancer patients who are undergoing immunotherapy treatment. Immunotherapy, a new-age cancer treatment modality, is rapidly gaining traction for its unique approach — it bolsters the body’s own immune system in the fight against cancer cells. ICIs fall under the umbrella of immunotherapy treatment and they operate by obstructing immune checkpoints, which are essentially molecules known for suppressing the immune system. ICIs have demonstrated efficacy in treating an array of cancers, including but not limited to melanoma, lung cancer, and kidney cancer. Over the years, cannabis has exhibited numerous anti-cancer effects during laboratory trials. However, the clinical application of these findings remains largely unexplored, necessitating extensive research to discern the true impact of cannabis use on cancer patients who are receiving immunotherapy treatment. Some experts voice concerns over the possibility of cannabis suppressing the immune system, thereby jeopardizing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. On the other hand, some posit that cannabis could potentially act synergistically with immunotherapy, augmenting its cancer-fighting efficacy. The unfolding of this study’s results is eagerly awaited by both the global cancer research fraternity and the general public. Should the study ascertain that cannabis use is both safe and effective for cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment, it could potentially herald a significant paradigm shift in the way cancer is treated in the future.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recently granted $3.2 million to the University of Buffalo to conduct a study on the influence of marijuana consumption on the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy treatment 1. The study will invite 450 individuals who are currently undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy for a variety of cancer types. The participants will be evenly divided into two groups: regular cannabis users and individuals who abstain from cannabis use. This clear segregation of the participants lays a solid foundation for a comparative study, offering a comprehensive view of the effects of cannabis use in the context of cancer immunotherapy treatment 1. The research team intends to meticulously scrutinize the potential advantages as well as the potential setbacks associated with marijuana use during the course of immunotherapy. This will be achieved by conducting an in-depth analysis of the participants’ medical records, tracking the trajectories of their health outcomes, and extracting and studying blood samples at six intervals over the span of a year 1. While it’s crucial to acknowledge that this study is purely observational in nature, meaning that the researchers will not be manipulating or assigning the participants to either consumption or non-consumption of cannabis, it is expected to yield invaluable insights. These insights will help delineate the potential benefits and risks associated with cannabis use, particularly in cancer patients who are undergoing immunotherapy treatment 1.
It’s worth noting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved Cannabis as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition 1. However, chemical components of Cannabis, called cannabinoids, activate specific receptors throughout the body to produce pharmacological effects, particularly in the central nervous system and the immune system. Commercially available cannabinoids, such as dronabinol and nabilone, are approved drugs for the treatment of cancer-related side effects 1.
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