Anticancer Efficacy of CBD Pure Isolates and Commercially Available Water-Soluble CBD in Colorectal Cancer

According to the most recent information from the American Cancer Society (ACS), colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer in the United States. Moreover, rates are rising in younger age groups. Amongst Military Veterans, approximately 13,000 cases of CRC have been reported from 2009-2012. Critically, while early-stage cancers respond well to treatment, metastatic colorectal cancer has a 5-year survival of only 14 percent, emphasizing a need for new therapeutic approaches. CBD, which is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid from the Cannabis sativa plant, has been studied since the 1970s. There is some evidence that it has anti-tumorigenic properties such as slowing of tumor progression, apoptosis induction, and proliferation inhibition although the studies are few. However, CBD like many other drugs, has low water solubility leading to poor bioavailability. Several companies have apparently developed what is being called Water-Soluble CBD, which could theoretically improve bioavailability. This water-soluble CBD would allow for higher concentrations of CBD to be available to a tumor and a dosage regimen that maintained optimal levels for anti-cancer activity to be identified. Given the availability of such agents, the claims being made for their efficacy, as well as the dire need for effective treatments for CRC, this study is designed to determine the efficacy, safety, and validity of water-soluble CBD compounds in colon cancer in vitro and in vivo studies.