Effect of Phytocannabinoids and Endocannabinoids on Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/starkstudentconference/2017/Posters/12/thumbnail.jpgThe phytocannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) and the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) exhibit antiproliferative effect on cancer cells derived from multiple organs, including thyroid, brain, prostate and breast. Therefore, I hypothesized that ovarian cancer cell proliferation will be also inhibited by these cannabinoids. To test my hypothesis, I carried out the experiments as follows: Subconfluent SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were incubated with the above cannabinoids in serum-free medium for two days. Subsequently, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to determine the effects of these compounds on the cells. THC and CBD and R-1 methanandamide (MEA), a metabolically stable analog of anandamide, inhibited cell proliferation and induced rounding and detachment of the cells. 2-AG, however, exhibited no antiproliferative effect. The differential effects of cannabinoids on SKOV3 cell proliferation partly support my hypothesis.