Phase I Study of Safety and Feasibility of Ayurvedic Oral Cannabis Preparation in the Peri-operative Period in Breast and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Cancer

Registry facts

Study at a glance

Phase

PHASE1

Enrollment

12 (ACTUAL)

Start date

2022-06-08

Sponsor

Tata Memorial Hospital

Design

NA · SINGLE GROUP · TREATMENT

Locations

2

Results record

Not present in registry snapshot

The ancient Ayurvedic medicine obtained from Cannabis sativa plant has recently been re-explored for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential. Various laboratory and preclinical studies have proven its anti-cancer activity and its effect on all the hallmarks of cancer. Anecdotal clinical evidence has shown regression of tumours with ingestion of such medicinal cannabis. A randomized controlled trial in Glioblastoma Multiforme, a kind of brain tumour, shows improvement in disease free survival when temozolamide was combined with Cannabis spray called Sativex. However, because of lack of systematic, large volume studies, the evidence is slow to emerge. We have previously seen changes related to NF-kb (inflammation) and AP1 (acute hypoxia/stress) pathway genes within the tumour tissue as assessed by transcriptomic analysis (Yet unpublished data). There is laboratory evidence to suggest that the changes induced in the AP1 pathway during surgery can be ameliorated by cannabis treatment. We intend to explore this anticancer potential of C sativa herbal preparation in the pre-operative setting in breast and head and neck cancer patients. Hence, we are proposing a phase 1 study to assess the pharmacokinetic availability and safety and tolerability profile of one such ayurvedic preparation which contains 5 mg THC:CBD 1:1 preparation. Other than the PK profile, we will also be studying its effect on gene expression profiling of the breast and head neck oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma tissue.