Australian researchers are about to embark on a world-first clinical trial to determine if medicinal cannabis can slow the growth of a common and highly aggressive type of brain tumour.
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The trial will look at whether people with glioma can tolerate high THC medicinal cannabis, and if it can affect tumour growth when used alongside standard treatments.
Internationally renowned Australian neurosurgeon and former Australian of the Year, Professor Charlie Teo, will lead efforts to find patients for the trial by the Endeavour College of Natural Health.
Patients accepted into the trial will take high THC medicinal cannabis orally for three months, as well as undergoing standard treatment, which typically involves surgery, radiation and then chemotherapy.
The prognosis for people with glioma is bleak - half of all sufferers survive for just 15 months and fewer than five per cent of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis.
About 1000 Australians learn each year that they have glioma.
"This will be the first clinical trial worldwide to examine tolerability and tumour effect from orally ingested medicinal cannabis in humans with cancer of any type," says the college's lead researcher Dr Janet Schloss.
"As well as tumour impact, we'll be looking at whether medicinal cannabis can improve quality of life, by reducing common symptoms such as headache, nausea and vomiting."
Dr Schloss says it's vital to find new therapies, given glioma is so aggressive and often proves resistant to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Recent studies have shown that the active agents in cannabis may slow tumour growth.
"If we can establish dosage guidelines and understand whether medicinal cannabis can assist standard treatment, this could be life-changing for glioma patients and their families," Dr Schloss says.
The trial is funded by BioCeuticals, Australia's leading provider of nutritional and therapeutic supplements.
AAP
