Two elderly patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) experienced complete tumor regression after daily use of THC-dominant cannabis oils, according to a recent report published in the Journal of Cannabis Research. Both patients, aged 82 and 77, had high tumor burdens and did not pursue any other significant lifestyle, dietary, or medical interventions apart from the cannabis extracts.
Spontaneous regression of HCC is extremely rare, occurring in less than 0.5% of cases. The researchers emphasized that the outcomes observed in these two patients are unusual and highlight the potential anti-tumor properties of cannabinoids. “These observations build on previous preclinical research and underscore the need for clinical trials to examine the anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids in patients,” the authors wrote.
Cannabinoids have demonstrated anti-cancer activity in laboratory and animal models, but their effectiveness in humans has rarely been tested in clinical settings. Preclinical studies suggest that cannabinoids may inhibit tumor growth, induce cancer cell death, and enhance the immune response against tumors, but evidence from human studies remains limited.
The Dutch team documented that both patients achieved durable, complete tumor regression, with no disease progression observed during the follow-up period. While the study only involves two cases, the researchers suggest that these findings warrant further investigation to explore whether cannabis oil could be a viable adjunctive therapy for advanced liver cancer.
The full study, titled “Durable complete response of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using cannabis oil: A report of two cases,” is available in the Journal of Cannabis Research. The authors hope that their report will encourage larger, controlled clinical trials to confirm the potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids in oncology.
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