In vitro antineoplastic and antitumor stem cell effects of cannabidiol alone and combined with traditional chemotherapy (doxorubicin) in ovarian carcinomas

• Grant number: 24/09078-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: André Almeida Schenka
• Grantee: Amanda Aragão Braz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer constitutes a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by the disordered, rapid and autonomous proliferation of cells with changes in differentiation and which can spread locally or systemically. It has high prevalence and morbidity and mortality worldwide and, for this reason, represents a critical public health problem. Ovarian cancers, in particular, account for  3% of cancer cases in women. However, it is the female gynecological cancer with the highest mortality and lethality, as it is diagnosed late in 70% of cases (it has non-specific and often mild symptoms), because conventional treatments are, in general, suboptimal, especially in patients at an advanced stage. In the present study, we will investigate the antineoplastic/anti-tumor stem cell potential of cannabidiol, a compound present in high concentrations in Cannabis sativa. Cannabidiol is promising, as it has low toxicity (does not have significant psychoactive effects) and partially demonstrated beneficial actions in the areas of pain, emesis, depression and anxiety (undesirable symptoms frequently present in cancer patients). Isolated cannabidiol, doxorubicin or a combination of both will be supplied for 72h to cultured cells obtained from commercial cell lines that represent experimental models of ovarian carcinoma. The presence or absence of the antineoplastic effect will be investigated using as study variables: cytochemical or immunocytochemical markers of cell viability (MTT), proliferative activity (ki67), apoptosis (Apoptag) and CTT phenotype (ALDH-1 and CD133 ). We hope to contribute to the discovery of new substances that can improve curative and palliative treatment conditions for ovarian cancer. (238 words).