Anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effect of cannabidiol on human cancer cell lines in presence of serum
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(2020) 13:389 Sainz‑Cort et al. BMC Res Notes https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-020-05229-5
Open Access
RESEARCH NOTE
Anti‑proliferative and cytotoxic effect of cannabidiol on human cancer cell lines in presence of serum Alberto Sainz‑Cort1* , Claudia Müller‑Sánchez2 and Enric Espel2
Abstract Objective: Cannabinoids are able to reduce tumor growth in xenograft models, but their therapeutic potential as anti-cancer drugs in humans is unclear yet. In vitro studies of the effect of cannabinoids on cancer cells are often car‑ ried out in absence of serum or in low serum concentration (i.e. 0.5% serum), conditions that limit cellular growth and therefore can increase the response of cells to additional challenges such as the presence of cannabinoids. However, the tumor microenvironment can be teaming with growth factors. In this study we assessed the viability and prolif‑ eration of cancer cells treated with cannabidiol in presence of a serum concentration that commonly sustains cell growth (10% serum). Results: The results show that cannabidiol exerts a markedly different effect on the viability of the human HT-29 cancer cell line when cultured in presence of 0.5% serum in comparison to 10% serum, displaying a cytotoxic effect only in the former situation. In presence of 10% serum, no inhibitory effect of cannabidiol on DNA replication of HT-29 cells was detected, and a weak inhibition was observed for other cancer cell lines. These results indicate that the effect of cannabidiol is cell context-dependent being modulated by the presence of growth factors. Keywords: Paclitaxel, Colon cancer, Cannabidiol, Serum Introduction The cannabis plant has a therapeutic potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer. Phytocannabinoids, are being tested in vitro and in vivo for the potential to fight different types of cancer. Cannabis extracts have recently been described to exert a cytotoxic effect on human cancer cell lines [13]. However, in vitro cancer models, present limitations which reduce their predictive validity. One of these limitations is to reproduce the nutritional environment of the cells using cell culture media and growth factors [1]. Many in vitro cancer studies use historical culture media with fetal calf serum (FCS). However, it is usual *Correspondence: [email protected] 1 GH Medical, Barcelona, Spain Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
to eliminate or reduce FCS concentrations (i.e. FCS
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