An 80-year-old woman with lung cancer declined conventional treatment and instead self-administered CBD oil 2-3 times daily. Serial imaging showed her tumor shrinking significantly from 41mm to 10mm over 2.5 years. While previous studies on cannabinoids as cancer treatment have been inconclusive, this case suggests CBD oil intake may have contributed to tumor regression in this patient.

1. CBD OIL SHRINK LUNG CANCER
IN
AN 80s YEAR OLD WOMAN
REPORTED BY
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
Comment By
Kevin KF Ng, MD, PhD.
Former Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
Email: kevinng68@gmail.com
A Slide Presentation for HealthCare Providers Oct 2021

2. Cannabidiol (CBD) as a Promising Anti-Cancer Drug (2020)
▪ The use of cannabinoids containing plant extracts as herbal
medicine can be traced back to as early as 5,000 BC.
▪ In recent years, the medical and health-related applications of one
of the non-psychotic cannabinoids, cannabidiol or CBD, has
generated a great deal of attention.
▪ Cannabinoids (>140) is a mixture of organic molecules, that are
extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant, physiologically produced
in humans, and synthesized in laboratories.
▪ These organic molecules share similarities in their chemical
structures as well as in their protein binding profiles. However,
pronounced differences do exist in their mechanisms of action
and clinical applications
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7693730/

3. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil
▪ CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis
plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or
hemp seed oil.
▪ Cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940
▪ Cannabidiol is devoid of psychoactive property
▪ Molar mass of cannabidiol: 314.469 g·mol−1
▪ Cannabidiol is insoluble in water
▪ Bioavailability of oral cannabidiol: 6% (fasted)
▪ Elimination half-life of cannabidiol: 18-32 hours https://www.healthline.com/health/does-cbd-oil-expire

4. Reported Pharmacological actions and health benefits of CBD
▪ Antioxidant
▪ Anti-inflammatory
▪ Immune-modulating
▪ Anticancer
▪ Central nervous system
▪ Anticonvulsant
▪ Antianxiety
▪ Analgesic
▪ Cardioprotective
▪ Bone health

5. The effects of CBD on different cancers. (2020)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7693730/

6. CASE REPORT:
HTTPS://CASEREPORTS.BMJ.COM/CONTENT/14/10/E244195

7. Lung cancer patient who had declined conventional cancer treatment:
could the self-administration of ‘CBD oil’ be contributing to the
observed tumour regression? (2021)
▪ Conventional lung cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy;
however, these treatments are often poorly tolerated by patients. Cannabinoids have
been studied for use as a primary cancer treatment.
▪ Cannabinoids, which are chemically similar to our own body’s endocannabinoids, can
interact with signalling pathways to control the fate of cells, including cancer cells.
▪ This is a case report of a patient who declined conventional treatment for non-small cell
lung cancer. Without the knowledge of her clinicians, she chose to self-administer
cannabidiol (CBD) oil’ orally 2–3 times daily.
▪ Serial imaging shows that her cancer reduced in size progressively from 41 mm to 10
mm over a period of 2.5 years.
▪ Previous studies have failed to agree on the usefulness of cannabinoids as a cancer
treatment. This case appears to demonstrate a possible benefit of ‘CBD oil’ intake that
may have resulted in the observed tumour regression. The use of cannabinoids as a
potential cancer treatment justifies further research.
https://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/10/e244195

8. Graph showing longest axial diameter of the tumour (mm) in serial CT
scans and two PET scans, and start of self-treatment with ‘CBD oil’.
https://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/10/e244195
main active ingredients of the ‘CBD oil’ :
• Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 19.5%,
• CBD at 20.05% and
• tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) at 23.8%
• Dose: 0.5 ml 2 to 3 times daily by mouth

9. Serial CT scans showing the tumour in the right middle lobe of the lung.
Red arrow indicates the tumour location. (2021)
https://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/10/e244195
41 mm
10 mm

10. Patient’s perspective
▪ I was not very interested in traditional cancer treatments as I was worried about the
risks of surgery, and I saw my late husband suffer through the side effects of
radiotherapy.
▪ My relative suggested that I should try ‘cannabidiol (CBD) oil’ to treat my cancer, and
I have been taking it regularly ever since.
▪ I am ‘over the moon’ with my cancer shrinking, which I believe was caused by the
‘CBD oil’. I am tolerating it very well and I intend to take this treatment indefinitely.
https://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/10/e244195

11. Comment
▪ According to the BMJ report, the “CBD Oil” used by the patient
contains:
▪ Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 19.5%,
▪ Cannabidiol (CBD) at 20.05% and
▪ tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) at 23.8%
▪ The reduction in the size of the tumor from 41 mm to 10 mm is
not due to CBD alone. Other phytochemicals such as terpenoids
and flavonoids found in CBD oil could be contributory
▪ It is possible that the “CBD oil” produced its benefits by the
synergistic effects of phytocannabinoids (THC, CBD and THCA)
with other phytochemicals (terpenoids, flavonoids) in a reaction
known as “Entourage Effect”
▪ Please refer to the following link:
▪ https://www.slideshare.net/ssusera9ba27/entourage-effect-of-cannabidiol-cbd
▪ Further research is needed.
Entourage Effect
https://www.slideshare.net/ssusera9ba27/entourage-effect-of-cannabidiol-cbd