Crosstalk between Chemokine Receptor CXCR4 and Cannabinoid Receptor CB2 in Modulating Breast Cancer Growth and Invasion
2011

Crosstalk between CXCR4 and CB2 in Breast Cancer

Sample size: 82 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Nasser Mohd W. Qamri, Zahida Deol, Yadwinder S. Smith, Diane Shilo, Konstantin Zou, Xianghong Ganju, Ramesh K. Ganju

Primary Institution: The Ohio State University

Hypothesis

A synthetic non-psychoactive cannabinoid that specifically binds to cannabinoid receptor CB2 may modulate breast tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting signaling of the chemokine receptor CXCR4.

Conclusion

The study suggests that CB2-specific synthetic cannabinoids can inhibit breast cancer growth and metastasis by blocking CXCR4/CXCL12-induced signaling.

Supporting Evidence

  • High expression of both CB2 and CXCR4 receptors was observed in breast cancer patient tissues.
  • JWH-015 treatment inhibited CXCL12-induced chemotaxis and wound healing in breast cancer cell lines.
  • JWH-015 significantly inhibited orthotopic tumor growth in syngenic mice.

Takeaway

This study found that a special cannabinoid can help stop breast cancer from growing and spreading by blocking a specific signal in the cancer cells.

Methodology

The study used immunohistochemical analysis, chemotactic and wound healing assays, and in vivo mouse models to assess the effects of the cannabinoid JWH-015 on breast cancer cells.

Participant Demographics

The study analyzed tumor samples from 82 breast cancer patients.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0023901

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